I think that is the correct and more informative way to report the latest results of the Public Policy Polling tracking poll for the GOP governor’s race.
Considering the 3.7 margin of error, Fred Smith is tied with undecided at 26 percent. Bob Orr and Bill Graham lag among poll respondents with around 5 percent each.
Put another way, McCrory appears to have about one-third of the vote, Smith about a quarter, and about a quarter completely up for grabs. Where those up-for-grabs votes land will determine the winner and if that winner can possibly avoid a runoff by nabbing over 40 percent of the vote.
Talking to several GOP insiders yesterday, the consensus was that Smith needed to move to define himself better among voters in the Piedmont and points west to hope a chance of making up whatever lead McCrory may have. McCrory’s TV ads, while not towering home runs, have been solid enough to introduce him to voters and hit on a couple key issues like crime and illegal immigration. Smith has left no such on impression among the casual Republican voter.
