Poll: Cranley neck-and-neck with Chabot - UPDATED

Democrat John Cranley of Price Hill just released a poll today that shows him tied with incumbent Republican Rep. Steve Chabot of Westwood.

Last March, Cranley's campaign released a poll showing Chabot at 49 percent and Cranley at 40 percent. At the time, Cranley touted the poll because it showed an incumbent with less than 50 percent, which is rare.

This time, the numbers have changed. According to the poll from Anzalone-Liszt Research, which also did the first poll, Cranley and Chabot are now running neck-and-neck at 45 percent each.

The poll includes 500 people who were interviewed randomly by telephone between July 17 and Aug. 1, 2006. The margin of error is +/- 4.4 percent.

In a news release, Cranley said the poll "shows that the people of the 1st Congressional District have had enough of Steve Chabot and his rubber-stamp ways in Washington."

A recent story in Roll Call says Republicans have done polling on the 1st District, but they haven't released any results. Chabot's campaign also has not released any polling results.

Chabot campaign spokesman Mike Ensminger said the Chabot campaign doesn't release or comment on specific polling data, but the campaign has done polls that show Chabot in a "much more positive position."

"Our survey does tell a different story and clearly Mr. Cranley is desperate to make this a competitive race and will say or do anything to get elected," he said.

Ensminger: "No amount of polling will change John Cranley's record of high taxes, wasteful spending and inept leadership on city council. Councilman Cranley is trying to do everything possible to hide his liberal positions and distract people from the issues that really matter."