EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Legal Newsline) – A new poll shows U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis with a 19-point lead over Democratic challenger Ann Callis.
In the battle to represent Illinois’ 13th Congressional District, 55 percent of district voters favor Davis, while 36 support Callis, a former Madison County chief judge who stepped down from a 19-year career on the bench last year to run.
The poll, released Sunday by Public Opinion Strategies, finds that Davis’ name recognition is at 85 percent, and his image among district voters is 41 percent favorable and 21 percent unfavorable.
Fewer than two-in-three voters, 63 percent, have heard of Callis, and her image is polarized, with 19 percent of voters having a favorable impression of her and 17 percent having an unfavorable impression.
The poll states that President Obama’s terrible job approval rating and the GOP’s strength on the ballot makes for a favorable political environment for Davis.
In addition, Callis’ self-inflicted wounds have hurt her standing with the voters, the poll states.
Callis made headlines earlier this month when the Lee Enterprises Springfield bureau reported that when she was still a judge, she signed multiple mortgage papers identifying her residence as a home in Kirkwood, Mo.
The article stated it obtained copies of mortgage records and that a Callis’ campaign spokesperson, David Miyashiro, confirmed Callis signed the documents. He also said the candidate is a resident of Illinois who lived in a house she owns in Troy, but she moved into a rental house in Edwardsville for the campaign.
Reach David Yates at elections@legalnewsline.com
IL13 race: New poll shows Davis 19 points up on Callis
