Markey Leads in Race for Kerry Seat

Either by a nose or several lengths, depending on who is calling the race

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/22/2013 9:42:57 AM

Former House Communications Subcommittee chair Ed Markey (D-Mass.) is either slightly or comfortably ahead of his challenger for the Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State and former Senate Communications Subcommittee Chair John Kerry.

Markey leads the primary race for Kerry's seat by seven percentage points, according to a new poll from noncommercial news station WBUR (FM) Boston, though that is still within the margin of error. That was according to a telephone survey conducted last week among 498 registered voters. It has a margin of error of 4.4 points.

But according to a Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey conducted about the same time, Markey is ahead by double digits among likely voters, 243% to 28%. That is according to a PPP survey of 426 likely Democratic primary voters.

On the campaign trail, Markey has been stumping for a Constitutional amendment repealing the Citizens United decision, which paved the way for more media buys from corporations and unions after the Supreme Court lifted restrictions on their spending in the run-up to primaries and general elections.