THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 22, 1996 TAG: 9609220021
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 56 lines
For the first time since he took up political racing, stock car ``King'' Richard Petty is running bumper to bumper in his campaign as a Republican candidate for North Carolina Secretary of State.
Democrat Elaine Marshall, who is opposing the Republican on Nov. 5, holds a slim 36 percent to 35 percent lead over Petty in a new Mason-Dixon political poll released Friday. The poll of 815 registered voters has a 3.5 percent margin of error, which means that number can be added or subtracted to any result.
``Petty held a 37 percent to 32 percent lead over Marshall in July,'' said Brad Coker, president of the Mason-Dixon polling organization in Columbia, Md.
The poll was conducted Sept. 13 through Sept. 15, one day after Petty was accused of bumping the rear of slower vehicle in front of him on Interstate 85 in Cabarrus County.
While 91 percent of voters polled said they have heard of Petty, only 34 percent said they have a favorable opinion of him.
The auto racing star admitted in a Raleigh court last week that he was following too close to the other vehicle and his lawyer paid $65 in court costs. Several other charges filed against Petty in connection with the incident were dropped.
Coker noted Marshall has moved up in the race despite lacking Petty's name recognition.
Marshall's name is recognized by only 66 percent of state voters polled. But Marshall has a 32 percent favorable name recognition and only a 7 percent unfavorable name recognition, according to the poll.
Petty got into state-level politics earlier this year when former Secretary of State Rufus Edmisten stepped out of the post after he was accused of showing favoritism to some of his job-holders.
Tthe Secretary of State's duties include regulating corporations and, in general, keeping an eye on the conduct of business within the state.
Marshall, an attorney-legislator, lives in Lillington where she is a partner in a law firm with her husband, attorney Sol Marshall. The 50-year-old has been active in Democratic politics and was elected to the North Carolina Senate in 1993. She is a graduate of Campbell University school of law.
Meanwhile, in a separate issue polled by Mason-Dixon, 64 percent to 26 percent of likely voters said they strongly oppose regulation of tobacco by the federal government.
``Politically, Democrats will bear the brunt of this,'' said Coker. ``Clinton and (Democrat) Senate candidate Harvey Gantt would appear to be more affected than (Democrat) Gov. James B. Hunt.''
Hunt, running for re-election, is opposed by state Rep. Robin Hayes, of Concord, a textile heir. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Richard Petty, who was accused of bumping another vehicle Sept. 12,
had a 91 percent name recognition in a poll Sept. 13-15. by CNB