Ch. 12 poll shows Gemma running neck-and-neck with Cicilline in RI-CD1

A new Channel 12 poll shows  Anthony Gemma in a statistical dead heat with Congressman David Cicilline in the early phase of their Democratic primary fight.  Yet 45 percent of respondents say they don’t have an opinion of Gemma, meaning that he has a lot of room to either gain or lose support before the September 4 primary.  

The findings come as Gemma has pursued a relatively quiet entry into the First Congressional District race, focusing his criticism on Republican candidate Brendan Doherty.

The poll by veteran pollster Joseph Fleming asked 302 likely Democratic primary voters which candidate they’d lean toward if the election was held today. Forty percent picked Cicilline; 36 percent opted for Gemma; 20 percent were undecided; and four percent refused to answer.

Cicilline’s four percentage point lead is smaller than the poll’s six percentage point margin of error.

Other highlights:

— Cicilline leads 43 percent to 33 percent among female voters, while Gemma leads among male voters 39 percent to 37 percent.

— Respondents offered these results on who they think has the best shot of beating Doherty: Cicilline – 34 percent; Gemma – 31 percent; both equal – 6 percent.

— Cicilline’s job approval numbers: excellent – 4 percent; good – 28 percent; fair – 34 percent; poor – 27 percent; don’t know – 7 percent.

— Views of Gemma: very favorable – 3 percent; somewhat favorable – 35 percent; somewhat unfavorable – 12 percent; very unfavorable – 5 percent; don’t know – 45 percent.