Branstad leading Hatch by just 46 to 40 percent, Rasmussen poll shows

DES MOINES - The latest poll on Iowa's gubernatorial race suggests the race is much closer than previous surveys have shown.

The conservative-leaning Rasmussen Reports on Monday published the results of its poll, conducted last week, which shows incumbent Republican Gov. Terry Branstad leading Democratic challenger and state Sen. Jack Hatch, 46 percent to 40 percent.

That six-percentage-point margin is dramatically smaller than six previous polls, all of which showed Branstad ahead by double digits. Quinnipiac University and Loras College found Branstad ahead by more than 20 percentage points earlier this month.

At his weekly news conference Monday, before the Rasmussen poll was announced, Hatch brushed off questions that suggested his campaign is struggling. Hatch insisted the campaign is really getting started only now.

'The people are just beginning to take a look at this,” Hatch said. 'These campaigns now start in the fall. … The fact is Iowans are just beginning to take notice.”

Branstad's campaign spokesman responded to the Rasmussen poll with a statement.

'Two things are clear: the only poll that matters is the one on Election Day, and Iowans in every single poll say they resoundingly support Gov. Branstad over Jack Hatch,” Branstad spokesman Tommy Schultz said. 'Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds are meeting with Iowans in all 99 counties to discuss their positive vision for building Iowa's future, and they will continue to do so for the next 43 days.”

Rasmussen surveyed 750 likely voters in Iowa on Sept. 17 and 18. The poll's margin of error is 4 percentage points.