As released by Papenfuse for Mayor:

NEW POLL SHOWS THOMPSON IS UNLIKELY TO WIN REELECTION.

HARRISBURG - A poll released Monday by the Washington, D.C.-based Democratic public opinion research firm Momentum Analysis shows incumbent Mayor Linda Thompson is extremely unpopular among Harrisburg voters and is unlikely to win reelection in the May 2013 Democratic Primary.

“Mayor Thompson is reviled and extremely vulnerable as she seeks reelection next month,” veteran pollster Margie Omero concluded from surveying a diverse sample of likely Democratic Primary voters in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, last week.

The polling data turns conventional wisdom on its head in numerous ways.

Despite recent media predictions that Thompson might retain a strong appeal to African American voters in Harrisburg, Momentum Analysis’s striking new poll shows that the incumbent does not have the support of a majority of African American voters.

In fact, Mayor Thompson is viewed extremely unfavorably by a majority of likely voters, whether white or African American. Her chances of reelection are very slim.

By contrast, challenger Eric Papenfuse, a successful business owner, former public school teacher, and longtime civic activist, is extremely popular. Papenfuse boasts a high level of name recognition, especially notable for someone who is not an elected official. Both white and African American voters view him very favorably

. Among likely voters, Papenfuse leads Thompson by a wide margin of 20 points.

The poll was robust and multifaceted, with many findings of significance.

Our campaign is releasing polling data about Papenfuse versus Thompson to the public in order to correct widespread misconceptions about the nature of the upcoming Mayoral election and the opinions of Democratic Primary voters.

The poll results directly counter political pundits’ unfounded predictions, as recently reported in the media. In fact, competitors are not splitting the anti-incumbent vote in a way that would enable Thompson to win reelection. Both Eric Papenfuse and his chief opponent are beating Thompson, who comes in third.

The polling memo is available for download at http://papenfuseformayor.com/press-materials.

Margie Omero of Momentum Analysis is available for media interviews. Contact her at telephone (202) 518-6185 or email margieomero@momentumdc.com

Photo/Natalie Cake

Eric Papenfuse is available for televised interviews in midtown Harrisburg this evening, Monday, April 8, 2013, and throughout the week. Contact him by email at eric@papenfuseformayor.com.

For more information about the Eric Papenfuse's Mayoral campaign, contact Communications Director Joyce Davis at (717) 712-4238 or email campaign@papenfuseformayor.com.

Results from survey. Momentum Analysis