Emanuel Ahead of Garcia by 10.6 Percent Heading Into Runoff: Poll

The poll, released by the mayor’s super PAC, shows Emanuel holding 50.4 percent of the city’s vote with Garcia at a solid 39.8 percent

Mayor Rahm Emanuel is ahead of Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia by 10.6 percent heading into their April runoff, according to a new poll.

The poll, released by the mayor’s super PAC, shows Emanuel holding 50.4 percent of the city’s vote with Garcia at a solid 39.8 percent. The remaining 9.8 percent of voters are reportedly undecided.

The robocall poll of 2,659 likely voters was conducted Wednesday by the Global Strategy Group, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

The poll shows some good signs for supporters of Emanuel who were shaken by the unexpected election results, according to the publication:

• Among black voters, Emanuel leads with 51.8 percent to Garcia’s 35.8 percent.
• Among white voters, Emanuel holds a 12.4 percentage point lead, with 53 percent to Garcia’s 40.6 percent.
• Even in Garcia’s base among Hispanic voters, Emanuel is “competitive” with 43 percent of the vote to Garcia’s 51.3 percent. Hispanics are the only demographic group where Garcia is leading.
• Asked whom they trust to tackle the vexing issues of crime, education and finances, 47.6 percent of voters surveyed favor Emanuel, compared to 32.8 percent for Garcia.
• Although Emanuel’s abrasive, top-down management style has rubbed voters the wrong way, 49.7 percent of voters polled said Emanuel has the “personality and leadership skills” to be an effective mayor, compared to 32.1 percent for Garcia.

Garcia is not concerned though, laughing off the poll results when he spoke to the publication.

“We already defied the odds," Garcia said to the Sun-Times. "The money and everything they could throw at us in the primary. We demonstrated a solid coalition. It will only grow and get stronger… As I predicted a runoff, I predict victory.”

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