Tribune poll shows Jackson gaining, other Democrats standing still. Democratic primary for U. S. Senate wide open.

CHICAGO – The results of a Chicago Tribune poll released today shows Cheryle Jackson gaining ground while the numbers for other Democratic candidates have not moved based on recent polling by the campaigns. The Tribune poll shows that 35 percent of likely primary voters remain undecided.

Jackson gained five percentage points in the Tribune poll with support from 17 percent of voters, based on earlier polling by the Jackson, Meister and Hoffman campaigns.  Jackson support was 13, 10, and 12 percent in those polls. The poll shows Jackson and Giannoulias are virtually tied among Chicago voters who make up a majority of Democratic primary voters.

State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias was the choice of 31 percent of Democratic voters, virtually unchanged since November polling for the Jackson and Meister campaigns showed him at 31 and 33 percent respectively.  David Hoffman also appears mired down, gaining only slightly from his seven percent support in his own poll last October. Other campaign polls showed the same result. Jacob Meister remains at 1 percent.

“This poll shows that our message and grassroots outreach is taking hold with voters. In spite of early advertising by all three major opponents, Cheryle is the candidate with momentum,” said Jackson Campaign Manager Rodney Shelton.

The November poll by Celinda Lake of Lake Research Partners showed that Jackson showed the most potential to increase her vote share as voters become more familiar with her and that “she is the only candidate with the momentum to win the race.” The Lake report also concluded that, “while Giannoulias converts much of his name recognition into votes, he appears to have maximized his potential in that regard.”

Jackson is endorsed by EMILY’s list, the Women’s Campaign Forum, the Cook County Democratic Women, Congressman Bobby Rush, Congressman Danny Davis, Senator James Meeks and a coalition of pastors heading the Chicago Area’s largest churches with congregations totaling more than 200,000.