Poll: Emanuel, Garcia in Dead Heat - Chicago Tonight | WTTW

A new poll concludes that Mayor Rahm Emanuel is "very likely" even with challenger Jesus "Chuy" Garcia. The poll, conducted by Ogden Fry, shows Emanuel up 43 percent to 38.5 percent, with 18.6 percent undecided. But, the pollster says the race is even closer than that because his data shows that Hispanics have historically been underrepresented in polls.

The poll surveyed around 1,000 likely voters and was conducted on Feb. 25, one day after the initial election, and again on Feb. 28, with the results remaining largely unchanged.

"We are not surprised by the results of the latest poll," said Garcia Campaign Manager Andrew Sharp. "We continue to believe that as the city learns more about Jesus "Chuy" Garcia's agenda for change, his support will continue to grow. We have seen a lot of polls over the last few months and we saw the results of the election last Tuesday. One fact remains constant - a majority of Chicagoans do not want four more years under Mayor Emanuel."

The Emanuel campaign has not yet responded to the latest poll results. Ogden Fry conducted weekly polls in the run-up to last Tuesday's election. Its last weekly poll correctly predicted the order of finish, and that Emanuel was short the necessary votes for a runoff.

The news comes as State Board of Elections records show that campaign limits have now been lifted in the runoff election thanks to a $110,000 donation made to the Emanuel campaign by the Chicago Forward PAC, a committee that has supported Emanuel allies facing reelection in City Council.