GOP's Susana Martinez Poised to Take New Mexico Governor's Seat From Democrats

Republican Susana Martinez, who is the first Hispanic woman to win a major party nomination for governor, has widened her lead over Democratic Lt. Gov. Diane Denish in the race to succeed outgoing Gov. Bill Richardson, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Sept. 29.

Martinez, a county district attorney, is leading Denish by 51 percent to 41 percent, with 3 percent preferring some other candidate and 5 percent undecided. The margin of error is 4 points.

This is the first time Martinez has broken the 50 percent mark. In late August, she had led by 48 percent to 43 percent.

Martinez is seen favorably by 60 percent of voters and unfavorably by 38 percent with 2 percent not sure. Forty-nine percent view Denish unfavorably while 48 percent view her favorably, with 3 percent not sure. Another key difference: 35 percent regard Martinez "very" favorably, compared with 21 percent for Denish.

Read: Denish vs. Martinez for New Mexico Governor: A Rare 2-Woman Race

Martinez is getting much stronger support from fellow Republicans than Denish is from Democrats -- 90 percent compared to 62 percent.

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