New Georgia governor poll shows race still tight — but with new leader

Key Points:

• New polling from Rasmussen Reports shows Republican Rick Jackson, a billionaire healthcare CEO, narrowly leading Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Atlanta mayor, in the Georgia governor's race with 48% to 45%, while 7% remain undecided.
• Both candidates maintain strong support within their parties, with Jackson favored by 89% of Republicans and Bottoms by 88% of Democrats; among unaffiliated voters, Jackson leads slightly at 43% to 41%.
• Demographic splits reveal men favor Jackson (53% to 38%), women favor Bottoms (51% to 44%), Bottoms is stronger with Black voters and younger voters under 30, while Jackson leads among white voters and those over 65.
• Jackson has outspent Bottoms on campaign ads by nearly 10-to-1, with $75.8 million spent compared to Bottoms' $8.2 million, largely from Jackson’s personal fortune estimated to exceed $3 billion.
• Early voting in Georgia begins Oct. 13 and runs through Oct. 30, with the general election set for Nov. 3; a runoff, if necessary, will be held Dec. 1 with early voting Nov. 23-25.