Poll shows Hoffman with lead over Doheny

A poll conducted for Doug Hoffman’s campaign shows the Saranac Lake accountant with a commanding lead over his GOP opponent Matt Doheny.

The poll was released by McLaughlin & Associates and shows Hoffman with a 52 to 20 percent lead over Doheny, a Watertown businessman.

More than half of voters in the poll said they’d vote for the conservative Republican over the moderate Republican. 54 percent identified Hoffman as conservative.

Hoffman has Conservative and Tea Party support and will face-off with Doheny in a September primary. Doheny has the support of the Republican and Independence parties.

Both men hope to unseat Democratic Representative Bill Owens this November in the race for the 23rd Congressional District seat.

Rob Ryan, a spokesman for Hoffman’s campaign, said voters shouldn’t be weary of the poll even though it was financed by the candidate.

“In this case the pollster is a nationally respected pollster; he would
lose credibility and business if his poll wasn't on target,” Ryan said.

He adds that similar polls conducted for Hoffman’s campaign during last year’s special election were fairly accurate.