Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos and Republican challenger John Loughlin were statistically tied in a September University of New Hampshire poll, creating a closer statewide contest than the survey found for governor or U.S. Senate.
Matos received 48% support and Loughlin 44%, Rhode Island Current reported September 25. The online survey included 598 likely general election voters interviewed September 17-21 and carried a margin of error of 4 percentage points.
Ocean State Media reported that 7% of voters were undecided. The four-point difference between the candidates therefore should not be presented as a clear lead for the Democratic incumbent.
The governor's race produced a wider gap. According to Ocean State Media's account of the same poll, Democrat Helena Foulkes had 44% support, independent Ken Block 25% and Republican Aaron Guckian 17%. Ten percent of respondents were undecided in that contest.
The UNH Survey Center's September 24 release also described Democratic Sen. Jack Reed as holding a comfortable lead over Republican Raymond McKay. Its findings distinguish the lieutenant governor race from the other two statewide contests rather than showing a uniform advantage for either party.
Rhode Island Current reported that Matos and Loughlin met for a televised debate September 25. Their contest gives voters a separate choice from the governor's race, with the polling showing that Democratic strength in one statewide campaign does not translate into the same margin in another.
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