Lee with double-digit lead over Dean in new NBC/Marist poll

NASHVILLE – A new independent poll finds Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Lee with a double-digit lead over Democratic nominee Karl Dean.

The poll, which comes from NBC and New York-based Marist College, found 53 percent of likely voters surveyed supported Lee, compared to 40 percent for Dean.

Seven percent of respondents were undecided.

The poll also found Lee ahead in terms of favorability. Fifty-three percent of respondents had a positive view of Lee, versus 42 percent for Dean.

At the same time, respondents had a more negative view of Dean than Lee. Twenty-five percent of those surveyed had an unfavorable view of Dean, compared to 21 percent for Lee.

Both candidates had room for improvement in terms of favorability. Twenty-six percent of respondents said they were unsure or never head of Lee. Conversely, 32 percent of those surveyed said they'd never heard of or were unsure about Dean.

Other key findings from the survey, include:

❚ Lee has a significant advantage over Dean among male respondents, with 60 percent of those surveyed saying they'd vote for him. Thirty-two percent of male respondents said they've vote for Dean, while 7 percent were undecided;

❚ Among women, Lee and Dean were tied, with each receiving 46 percent support from female respondents;

❚ Lee is leading Dean among independents, with 51 percent of such respondents saying they'd vote for the Williamson County businessman compared to 38 percent for the former Nashville mayor.

The NBC/Marist poll, conducted over a three-day period starting Aug. 25, surveyed 538 likely voters.

The new poll is among the first to be released since Lee and Dean became the nominees of their respective parties.

Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.