Brown Widens Lead Over Coakley in New Poll

On the eve of the Massachusetts special election for Senate, a new American Research Group poll, conducted Jan. 15-17, says Republican Scott Brown has increased his lead over Democrat Martha Coakley among likely voters to 52 percent to 42 percent, with 2 percent backing Liberty Party candidate Joseph Kennedy and 2, percent undecided. The margin of error is 4 points.

In its last poll, conducted Jan. 12-14, ARG had Brown leading Coakley 48 percent to 45 percent.

Brown generates more enthusiasm among Republicans than Coakley does among Democrats, although the Democratic sample is so much larger than that of the Republicans, a successful turnout effort trumps that. Ninety-seven percent of Republicans (15 percent of the sample) support Brown while 73 percent of Democrats (42 percent of the sample) back Coakley. Brown is drawing away 23 percent of Democrats.

Unaffiliated voters, who make up 43 percent of the sample, favor Brown by 2-to-1.

In another poll, conducted Jan. 15-17, Research 2000 has Brown and Coakley tied at 48 percent each. Daily Kos, which has a polling arrangement with Research 2000, asked the firm to update the race after a poll it did for the Blue Mass Group blog between Jan. 12-13 had shown Coakley up by 8 points.

The other polls:

Public Policy Polling: Brown 51 percent, Coakley 46 percent

Suffolk University/7 News: Brown 50 percent, Coakley 46 percent

Rasmussen Reports: Coakley 49 percent, Brown 47 percent

Boston Globe: Coakley 50 percent, Brown 35 percent

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