FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 26, 2011
CONTACT: Adam Deguire

Opponents in Dead Heat for 2nd Place Among Likely Primary Voters

EAST VALLEY – Former Congressman and candidate for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District Matt Salmon today announced his campaign to return to Congress holds a commanding early lead in the race for the Republican nomination. In a recent survey conducted by top Arizona polling firm, Arizona Opinion, Salmon received a 30 point advantage over his closest competitor:

If the Republican primary election to choose a candidate to represent this area in the U.S. House were held today, for whom would you vote? [Rotate] Matt Salmon, Kirk Adams, OR Chuck Gray?

38.3% Matt Salmon
8.3% Kirk Adams
6.5% Chuck Gray
47.0% Undecided, Refused

The scientific survey (attached) of 400 likely primary voters in the current Congressional District 6 was conducted over July 18-19. Nearly 92% of those surveyed said they were certain to vote in next year’s primary election.

Dr. Margaret Kenski, President of Arizona Opinion, stated, “Certainly this poll indicates that Matt Salmon begins his campaign with a significant advantage over his opponents. Salmon is in a strong position to earn the support among those who remain undecided and increase his lead towards the all-important 50 percent level.”

“As I continue to meet with people throughout the community, I have been humbled by the overwhelmingly strong support my campaign has received,” said Matt Salmon. “The results of this survey reflect what I have been seeing and hearing every day. There is still much more work to be done, but it is clear that we need to change the direction that our country is headed by sending the most experienced and principled leaders back to Congress. I look forward to sharing more about my track record of reducing spending, balancing the budget, and fighting for conservative values.”

About Arizona Opinion
Arizona Opinion is an Arizona-based consulting firm with survey and other data-based research and focus groups and experience dating back to 1978. Located in Tucson, the firm has conducted research for organizations, campaigns, and candidates for all levels of state, local, and municipal government.

Dr. Margaret Kenski has served as a pollster for the Arizona Republican Party, Congressmen Mo Udall, Jim Kolbe, and Jeff Flake, Senator Jon Kyl, Governors Jane Dee Hull and Fife Symington, and numerous other state and local candidates and ballot proposition committees. Kenski has also conducted survey research on ballot measures and proposed legislation for such diverse entities as the Beer and Wine Distributors of Arizona, Intel, Qwest, and the Arizona State University Foundation.

About Matt Salmon
Matt Salmon was first elected to the United States Congress in 1994 and served until 2000, honoring his term limit pledge. A proud fiscal conservative, Salmon was rated in the top five among all 535 members of the House and Senate by Citizen’s Against Government Waste for all six years he was in office. He is a lifetime member of the NRA with an A+ rating and also earned a 100% rating by the National Right to Life. He was also the proud recipient of the American Cancer Society’s “Top National Elected Official” award.

Matt Salmon has received endorsements from Arizona Congressman Trent Franks, former Arizona Congressman John Shadegg, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, East Valley mayors Gail Barney (Queen Creek), Hugh Hallman (Tempe) and John Insalaco (Apache Junction).

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