[MS] Governor's race now tied, Presley internal poll says

JACKSON - Internal August polling for the Brandon Presley campaign claims the race against incumbent Republican Gov. Tate Reeves is tied, according to a memo obtained by the Daily Journal.

It’s the third of three known polls in the race by Democratic Party-aligned firm Impact Research and the first since Presley began airing TV ads last month. Polling by the firm has shown Presley rising steadily from 42% of voters in December to 44% in April and 46% in August, with Reeves declining from 49% to 47% to 46%. Every other poll released thus far in the race has shown Reeves leading, except for a January poll from a Democratic PAC showing Presley ahead.

The Presley-linked polling memo claims the Democratic nominee is gaining statewide name recognition as Reeves declines in popularity and asserts Presley can win Nov. 7 if he has “the resources to continue to communicate statewide.”

According to the memo, 59% of voters recognize Brandon Presley’s name, up from about 25% name recognition when he began the campaign. About 38% of voters have a favorable view of him and 21% a negative view. Name recognition is a major hurdle for Presley’s campaign against Reeves, who has been familiar to voters since his first statewide campaign for treasurer in 2003.