Gordon Ball's poll shows Sen. Alexander ahead 45-32 percent

photo Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., left, talks with Democrat Gordon Ball, right, before a U.S. Senate candidate forum Thursday in Cookeville, Tenn. The Farm Bureau candidates forum is their only joint appearance in Tennessee's U.S. Senate race.

NASHVILLE -- Democrat Gordon Ball says a new poll he commissioned shows Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander ahead but with just 45 percent of the vote compared to 32 percent for Ball.

Meanwhile, the same poll of 595 voters, conducted last weekend by Democratic pollster Public Policy Polling, shows a little-known conservative independent, Tom Emerson Jr., with 13 percent of the vote.

Ten percent of those surveyed were undecided, according to the survey which had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.

"The polling for Lamar has continued to drop as Sen. Alexander began his negative campaign," Ball's press secretary, Trace Sharp, said in a statement this afternoon. "Tennessee voters deserve to hear from these candidates and Sen. Alexander has refused to debate Gordon Ball or any other candidates in the race."

Alexander and Ball did participate last week in a forum sponsored by the Tennessee Farm Bureau. The format was not a traditional debate, but the two major party candidates nonetheless managed to work in attacks on one another.

The Public Policy Poll firm's results aren't too far off from a recent poll of 1,007 likely voters' preferences conducted from Sept. 20-Oct. 1 for YouGov, CBS News and The New York Times.

It showed Alexander leading Ball, a wealthy Knoxville attorney, by 53 to 32 percent. The poll found 12 percent undecided and 2 percent prefer "other" candidates.

Meanwhile, Alexander and Ball both released their third quarter financial disclosures today in response to reporters' requests.

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Alexander reported raising some $660,000 during the July 19 through Sept. 30 period and spending $1.5 million. As of Sept. 30 he had $1.3 million in cash.

Since then he has begun attacking Ball, saying the Democrat would be just "another vote for Obama" if elected.

Ball, a successful trial lawyer, reported loaning his campaign $1 million during the third quarter and raising another $138,000 from contributors. He had $1 million in the bank as of Sept. 30 after spending about $115,000.

The 2014 campaign has generated far more spending on Alexander's part than his 2008 race, a campaign in which he faced no serious GOP primary opposition and little activity from Democrat Bob Tuke.

By comparison, Alexander's total spending this cycle is more than $8 million versus $4.5 million in 2008. This year Alexander faced GOP primary opposition from tea party rival Joe Carr. Alexander won the contest with 49.7 percent versus 40.5 percent for Carr and 5.2 percent for George Flinn.

Meanwhile, Ball announced Monday that he is joining with independent candidates who are holding a Senate debate slated for Thursday in Nashville.

The idea began with independent candidate Joshua James. Others involved are Emerson, Constitution Party nominee Joe Wilmouth, Green Party nominee Martin Pleasant, Edmund L. Gauthier, Danny Page, Martholomew J. Phillips, C. Salekim, Eric Schechter and Rick Tyler.

Early voting is underway for the Nov. 4 election.

Contact staff writer Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.

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