Republican Gov. Phil Scott is coasting to reelection and has become more popular than the three Democrats who serve in Vermont's Congressional delegation according to a new poll from VPR and Vermont PBS.
Meanwhile, six weeks from Election Day, the state's lieutenant governor's race is a statistical dead heat, and fewer than 50% of Vermonters say they are eager to take a COVID-19 vaccine in the next year.
The poll was supervised by Rich Clark, a professor of political science and former director of polling at the Castleton Polling Institute, and was conducted by Braun Research Inc., a New Jersey firm. Pollsters interviewed 604 respondents between Sept. 3 and Sept. 15 over landlines and cell phones. The poll has an overall margin of error of 4%.
Phil Scott
Scott is leading 55% to 24% as he seeks a third term in office, with 16% undecided. And Scott's 68% approval rating bests U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy, whose ratings are at 61% and 56% respectively, and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, at 57%.
So popular is Scott that he could potentially unseat Leahy in the 2022 U.S. Senate election, when Leahy would be eligible to seek a ninth term. Scott leads Leahy 41% to 38% 鈥� a toss-up 鈥� in that theoretical matchup.
Other races
The only close statewide race is the battle to succeed Zuckerman as lieutenant governor. The poll finds Democrat Molly Gray at 35% and Republican Scott Milne at 31%, a virtual tie. The race likely hinges on how the large block of undecided voters in that race 鈥� 24% 鈥� breaks in the final weeks of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Welch is up 57% to 18% over his little-known
Former Vice President Joe Biden leads President Donald Trump 56% to 32%. That result would be of Trump against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Most Biden supporters are motivated to get rid of Trump. Only 30% of Biden's voters said they are casting ballots out of a desire to support the candidate, while 63% said their Biden vote would be primarily driven by opposition to Trump.
Marijuana, a COVID-19 vaccine and school during a pandemic
With the Legislature poised to , the poll finds the idea is hugely popular. Some 68% support such a plan, with only 24% opposed.
And as public health officials are to get a COVID-19 vaccine when one becomes available, the poll shows experts may have reason to be concerned: 48% said they would be very eager, or somewhat eager, to get vaccinated within the next 12 months, while 43% said they would be somewhat reticent, or very reticent.
When asked, given the current state of the pandemic, whether they for in-person learning, 52% of respondents supported it, with 34% opposed. And 48% favored reopening Vermont's colleges and universities for in-person classes, with 42% opposed.
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From Sept. 3 to Sept. 15, the VPR - Vermont PBS 2020 Poll asked hundreds of Vermonters how they felt about political candidates, a COVID-19 vaccine, retail marijuana and other issues.
