The Quinnipiac University poll puts Fisher ahead of Brunner by as much as 17 points. But Brunner, a self-described underdog, brushes off the pre-election survey, saying many voters remain `undecided'...
JENNIFER BRUNNER:
"50% could still change their mind and 30% are still undecided, so we're going to keep on doing what we do, which is taking our message directly to the voters."
Brunner's message, which she's been delivering statewide from the back of a converted bus, is that she'll fight past 'big-money' politics and take direct aim at the finance industry - pushing reform by a new set of regulators.
BRUNNER:
"Banking reform needs to be done by people who have not taken money from - and won't take money from - the banks and the PACs and the executives of the banks who got the TARP funds."
Brunner tries to separate her key issues from those of her opponent, but insists that Fisher follows her lead when taking stands, so as not to appear 'too different' to party faithful.
She also characterized Fisher as someone not ready to lead in the Senate, because he hasn't led the state in past elections.
BRUNNER:
"The last time he won an election was 20 years ago in 1990. He ran in '94, lost as an incumbent, lost in '98 for governor, and then when Governor Strickland put him on the ticket in 2006, that revived his statewide political career. But I have never lost an election."
Brunner's campaign isn't nearly as well-financed as Fisher's, nor does she have as many endorsements.
To those who say she may lose this one, Brunner says simply - she's not afraid of a fight.
Rick Jackson, 90.3.
Candidate Lee Fisher appears on the Thursday Edition of "The Sound Of Ideas".
