Connect With PPD
Follow Us:
Sections: Elections

Why David Perdue Is Still Favored In Georgia Senate Race

Republican U.S. Senate candidate David Perdue greeted his Democratic opponent Michelle Nunn at the conclusion of a debate on Oct. 7. Polls have shown a tight race. (Photo: EUROPEAN PRESS PHOTO AGENCY)

Election projection models at the Crystal Ball and FiveThirtyEight have both adjusted their Peach State ratings to reflect either a race headed for a runoff, and even one in which Michelle Nunn is slightly favored to win. PPD’s model believes they are overestimating Michelle Nunn’s chances against David Perdue in the tightening Georgia Senate race.

If that happens, which even PPD’s tracking poll suggests has become more likely, the race — and, perhaps even control of the U.S. Senate — wouldn’t be decided until 2014. The runoff is scheduled on Jan. 6, 2015, just over two months after Election Day. Let’s take a look at the analysis, polling and state data. Of course, you can always get an idea of the overall political landscape by checking out the 2014 Senate Map and generic ballot tabs on the end.

[tabs id=”GASen” title=”Georgia Senate Race – Perdue (R) Vs. Nunn (D)”] [tab title=”Analysis”]

Polling

There is no doubt that polling had been moving in Nunn’s direction over the past few weeks amid Perdue’s own comments regarding outsourcing, and the Democrats’ effective response. But one of the reasons why we believe other election projection models jumped the gun is actually the polling, itself.

Let’s explain.

PPD’s tracking poll currently shows Perdue leading Nunn 48 – 45 percent, which is a reversal from last week when Nunn led 46 – 45 percent. The latest CNN/ORC live-caller survey found Nunn slightly ahead, but its sample size is half as large as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Poll, which found Perdue leading once again by a similar margin as PPD’s tracking — 44 – 42 percent. AJC survey even displays a slight average Democratic bias on PPD’s Pollster Scorecard. Yet, they are obviously seeing what we are seeing, which is that Nunn’s run appears to be done.

Channel 2 Action News released an automated poll conducted by Landmark Communications showing both candidates tied at 47 percent. PPD’s Pollster Scorecard recently downgraded Landmark Communication for demonstrating a greater-than 6-point Democratic lean, as well as automated methodologies that have proven very unreliable (see Rasmussen Reports and PPP).

Nunn has never hit 50 percent and, with the exception of one single poll all cycle, has been unable to touch 48 percent, while her average has yet to crack 46 percent. Meanwhile, Perdue has hit the 50-percent threshold multiple times throughout the cycle, though not as of late. But even the fundamentals still favor the Republican.

Primary polling dramatically underestimated Perdue’s actual performance both in the initial primary round and the runoff. Kingston was ahead of Perdue going into the runoff, yet ultimately lost. While everyone else was writing Perdue’s political obituary — because, look it up, the polls and pundits favored Kingston — we warned that pollsters were underestimating Perdue’s support in the Metro Atlanta suburbs and rural counties.

They did. Going into Election Day with a 6-point deficit on the RCP politics average, Perdue topped Kingston 50.9 – 49.1 percent. Did these same pollsters readjust their models? Nope. Let’s take a look at the aforementioned polling just to drive home the point.

Poll Date Sample Kingston Perdue RCP Average PPD Tracking
Final Results 49.1 50.9 Perdue +1.8 Perdue +1.2
RCP Average 7/15 – 7/16 47.0 41.0 Kingston +6.0
Landmark Communications 7/16 – 7/16 1720 LV 48 41 Kingston +7
InsiderAdvantage 7/15 – 7/16 696 LV 46 41 Kingston +5
InsiderAdvantage 7/7 – 7/9 1278 LV 42 41 Kingston +1
InsiderAdvantage 6/10 – 6/11 401 LV 46 35 Kingston +11
SurveyUSA 6/3 – 6/5 419 LV 52 41 Kingston +11

(Please note: Above is the RCP spread and final average juxtaposed to PPD’s final tracking poll. The final day of the survey was conducted one day before the runoff.)

Because the other variables outweighed PPD’s tracking — though we pushed back on it — even PPD’s model showed a slight Kingston advantage. Since then, we have adjusted our model in Georgia because, we believe there are two factors that account for the variance in the spread, and the adjustment was obviously warranted.

First, PPD tracking, as do internal pollsters, survey voter files. This gives us a far more accurate picture of who is going to actually vote, as well as how they will vote. Only one other public poll — the joint, bi-partisan FOX Poll — uses voter files in their polling model.

Second, Perdue had Establishment Republican support during the primary, and that came with a ground game we all clearly underestimated.

Ground Game

We’ve heard much about Nunn’s ground game, which has been used as justification for pollsters’ findings and pundits’ ratings. But while Republicans have 17 major outreach offices across Georgia, Democrats have just seven. Facilities like the Cobb County GOP headquarters are under long-term leases, while Democrats just appeared on the scene and are mostly renting short-term.

This is the real ground game environment throughout the state.

Looking at the early voting data, Perdue is performing as the fundamentals and related data would suggest. Perdue leads Nunn among those who already voted by 10 points — 52 – 42 percent.

Hypothetical Runoff

Let’s assume for a moment that neither candidate tops 50 percent on Election Day. What does the data actually tell us about Nunn’s chances?

Since 1992, the GOP has increased its margin from Election Day totals to runoff totals by roughly nine points. In 2008, which was a wave election year for Democrats, Republican incumbent Sen. Saxby Chambliss was forced into a runoff after failing to hit 50 percent on Election Day. He was ahead by four points, but went on to win the runoff by 14 points.

There are a host of factors we could use to scrutinize the results of runoffs in other cycles, but in this cycle control of the U.S. Senate is at stake. Given the likelihood Republicans will remain more energized than Democrats, perhaps even more so than they are now, we must assume Nunn’s path to victory will be very narrow. Sure, two months is a lifetime in politics and a ton of money will flood the state in that period. However, we cannot reasonably throw aside state voting history and political leanings, as well as the “big picture” fundamentals this cycle, for a slew of hail mary possibilities.

Perdue remains the favorite in the Georgia Senate race despite the hype, with the GOP enjoying a 69 percent chance they will pick a seat that clearly still Leans Republican.

[/tab]

[tab title=”Polls”]

Poll Date Sample MoE Nunn (D) Perdue (R) Raw Spread PPD Spread
PPD Averages 10/13 – 10/27 45.3 45.8 Perdue + 0.5  Perdue + 2.2 (47.5 – 45.3)
SurveyUSA* 10/24 – 10/27 611 LV 4.0 45 48 Perdue +3
CBS News/NYT/YouGov 10/16 – 10/23 1774 LV 4.0 44 47 Perdue +3
WSB-TV/Landmark* 10/20 – 10/21 1000 LV 2.8 47 47 Tie
Atlanta Journal-Constitution* 10/16 – 10/23 1170 LV 3.6 42 44 Perdue +2
CNN/Opinion Research* 10/19 – 10/22 565 LV 4.0 47 44 Nunn +3
InsiderAdvantage* 10/21 – 10/22 704 LV 3.7 47 45 Nunn +2
SurveyUSA* 10/17 – 10/20 606 LV 4.1 46 44 Nunn +2
WRBL/Ledger-Enquirer/PMB* 10/13 – 10/14 1543 LV 2.5 46 45 Nunn +1
SurveyUSA* 10/10 – 10/13 563 LV 4.2 48 45 Nunn +3
WSB-TV/Landmark* 10/7 – 10/9 1000 LV 3.1 46 46 Tie
SurveyUSA* 10/2 – 10/6 566 LV 4.2 45 46 Perdue +1
PPP (D) 10/2 – 10/5 895 LV 3.3 45 48 Perdue +3
Rasmussen Reports 9/30 – 10/1 1000 LV 3.0 42 46 Perdue +4
InsiderAdvantage* 9/29 – 10/1 947 LV 3.2 43 47 Perdue +4
CBS News/NYT/YouGov* 9/20 – 10/1 1851 LV 3.0 43 47 Perdue +4
SurveyUSA* 9/19 – 9/22 550 LV 4.3 45 46 Perdue +1
Rasmussen Reports 9/15 – 9/16 750 LV 4.0 41 46 Perdue +5
InsiderAdvantage* 9/10 – 9/11 1167 LV 2.9 40 50 Perdue +10
WSB-TV/Landmark* 9/9 – 9/11 1109 LV 2.9 46 43 Nunn +3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution* 9/8 – 9/11 884 LV 4.0 41 45 Perdue +4
SurveyUSA* 9/5 – 9/8 558 LV 4.2 44 47 Perdue +3
CBS News/NYT/YouGov* 8/18 – 9/2 1900 LV 3.0 41 47 Perdue +6
WRBL/Ledger-Enquirer/PMB* 8/24 – 8/25 1578 LV 2.5 45 43 Nunn +2
WSB-TV/Landmark* 8/20 – 8/21 600 LV 4.0 47 40 Nunn +7
SurveyUSA* 8/14 – 8/17 560 LV 4.2 41 50 Perdue +9
InsiderAdvantage* 8/12 – 8/13 719 LV 3.7 40 47 Perdue +7
Rasmussen Reports 7/23 – 7/24 750 LV 4.0 40 46 Perdue +6
WSB-TV/Landmark* 7/25 – 7/25 750 LV 3.8 47 43 Nunn +4
CBS News/NYT/YouGov 7/5 – 7/24 LV 3.4 44 50 Perdue +6
WSB-TV/Landmark 7/15 – 7/15 750 LV 4.0 48 42 Nunn +6
SurveyUSA* 6/3 – 6/5 999 LV 3.2 38 43 Perdue +5
Rasmussen Reports 5/21 – 5/22 750 LV 4.0 45 42 Nunn +3
Saint Leo University 5/5 – 5/6 1000 LV 3.0 37 41 Perdue +4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution 5/5 – 5/8 1012 RV 4.0 46 45 Nunn +1
NBC News/Marist 4/30 – 5/5 1066 RV 3.0 41 45 Perdue +4
Landmark/Rosetta Stone 4/1 – 4/1 600 RV 4.0 33 38 Perdue +5
PPP (D) 8/2 – 8/5 520 RV 4.3 40 40 Tie

(Please note: Our model uses separately calculated averages from weighted polls based on PPD’s Pollster Scorecard. Above is the raw spread and PPD Spread. The latter is weighted, but also includes PPD’s tracking.)[/tab]

[tab title=”State Data”]

POLITICS

Arkansas National Average
Partisanship
% Republican/Lean Republican 42 39
% Democratic/Lean Democratic 40 43
Registered Republicans No Party Registration In GA
Registered Democrats No Party Registration In GA
Unaffiliated/Undeclared No Party Registration In GA
Ideology
% Conservative 39 36
% Moderate 36 36
% Liberal 20 23
Presidential Job Approval
% Approve 41.5 40.6
Partisan Voting Index (state voting behavior compared to the nation as a whole)
Strongly Republican R+6

[/tab]

[tab title=”2014 Senate Map”][show-map id=’1′]
LEGEND: SAFE DEM | LIKELY DEM | LEANS DEM | TOSS-UP | LEANS GOP | LIKELY GOP | SAFE GOP[/tab]

[tab title=”Generic Ballot”][table id=3 /][/tab]

[/tabs]

READ FULL STORY

SubscribeSign In
Richard D. Baris

Rich, the People's Pundit, is the Data Journalism Editor at PPD and Director of the PPD Election Projection Model. He is also the Director of Big Data Poll, and author of "Our Virtuous Republic: The Forgotten Clause in the American Social Contract."

Share
Published by
Richard D. Baris

Recent Posts

Media’s Worst Russian Collusion Sins May Soon Be Repeated

The most damning journalistic sin committed by the media during the era of Russia collusion…

1 year ago

Study: Mask-Mandates and Use Not Associated With Lower Covid-19 Case Growth

The first ecological study finds mask mandates were not effective at slowing the spread of…

3 years ago

Barnes and Baris on Big Tech’s Arbitrary Social Media Bans

On "What Are the Odds?" Monday, Robert Barnes and Rich Baris note how big tech…

4 years ago

Barnes and Baris on Why America First Stands With Israel

On "What Are the Odds?" Monday, Robert Barnes and Rich Baris discuss why America First…

4 years ago

Personal Income Fell Significantly in February, Consumer Spending Weaker than Expected

Personal income fell $1,516.6 billion (7.1%) in February, roughly the consensus forecast, while consumer spending…

4 years ago

Study: Infection, Vaccination Protects Against Covid-19 Variants

Research finds those previously infected by or vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 are not at risk of…

4 years ago

This website uses cookies.