Cochran Way Ahead But Possibly Vulnerable

A new Harper Polling survey in Mississippi finds Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) with a 23 point lead over primary challenger Chris McDaniel (R), 54% to 31%.

“However, the survey also reveals peril for Cochran if the race becomes defined as a contest between the establishment Republican Party candidate and the tea party candidate.”

Key findings: 59% of the electorate supports a tea party candidate to a non-tea party candidate and 66% approve of the Republican-led shutdown of the federal government in October.