Several polls show tight race for Allegheny County executive, district attorney
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - With just two weeks until Election Day, the race for Allegheny County chief executive and district attorney may go down to the wire.
As KDKA-TV political editor Jon Delano reports, several polls confirm that both races are neck-and-neck between very different candidates.
Recent political polls conducted by the campaigns or their supporters suggest that the winners will be determined by what happens between now and Election Day.
"These final two weeks are critical for both races, both in terms of Democratic turnout and final messaging," says Mike Mikus, a Democratic political strategist.
"The race is truly up for grabs. Joe Rockey has a better-than-even shot of taking it now because momentum carries candidates into a general election," Charlie Gerow, a Republican political strategist, said.
Right now, Democrat Sara Innamorato is in the lead for county executive, with a one to seven-point lead over her Republican opponent Joe Rockey, according to four polls taken this month.
Gerow says despite a two-to-one Democratic registration edge, Rockey's message is resonating with voters.
"On messaging, I think it is really important for Joe Rockey to continue to pound on the fact that Sara Innamorato and the really increasingly radical far left of the Democrats that she represents are not in lockstep with mainstream Allegheny Countians," Gerow added.
But Mikus believes the registration hurdle is too great for Rockey.
"I think Sara Innamorato is in a strong position to win this race. Allegheny County is a Democratic county. Joe Biden got in excess of 60% of the vote," Mikus said.
The race for district attorney is even tighter with incumbent Stephen Zappala, a lifelong Democrat, running on the Republican ticket, challenged by Democrat Matt Dugan.
Three recent polls have Zappala up by two to four points in a very close contest.
Gerow thinks Zappala should stress his moderate approach.
"What's fascinating is that you have somebody running on the Republican line leading in that race, and it really suggests how far to the left his opponent is in the DA's race."
Mikus says Dugan has to persuade more Democrats that he's the real Democrat.
"What he needs to do is to convince enough Democrats that Steve Zappala is not a true Democrat."
Both elections remain jump balls, meaning who shows up at the polls on Nov. 7 will determine the outcome.