Walz: "We are within the margin of error"

by Leigh Pomeroy

In an interview today, Tim Walz, the DFL candidate in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District said he is "within the margin of error" of unseating six-term Congressman Gil Gutknecht. Walz said that only "single digits" divide the two candidates in his campaign's internal polling, with 15-16% of likely voters still undecided. He said that of the undecided voters, only 13% give a positive approval rating of President Bush.

Walz said that that the campaign has been purposely using conservative polling techniques unlike some of the other polls that have come out showing Walz in the lead. (See "MNPublius: Walz leads Gutknecht in SEIU Poll".) Campaign spokesperson Meredith Salsbery added later that their polls show Gutknecht "consistently below 50% and dropping."

Walz was in North Mankato this morning with former Senator Max Cleland on the first leg of a tour of the district with later stops in Winona, Waseca and Austin. Both men focused their remarks on the lack of support the current administration and Congress are giving to U.S. forces and veterans.

(More later.)