Comment on Democratic poll finds Herrera Beutler vulnerable in 3rd District

LONGVIEW — A new Democratic poll released Tuesday by congressional candidate Carolyn Long’s campaign shows incumbent Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler is in vulnerable territory as she prepares to mount her fourth re-election bid. Though the poll found that the incumbent has a sizable lead over Long — largely due to name recognition — it also suggests Herrera Beutler’s advantage could fizzle as the 2018 midterms draw nearer. Only 39 percent of voters approve of the Battle Ground Republican’s job performance, according to a survey conducted March 8-12 by Washington, D.C.-based Lake Research Partners. Out of 400 likely midterm voters surveyed in Southwest Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, just 38 percent of respondents said they would vote to re-elect Herrera Beutler, the poll found. The poll found that 22 percent of voters would consider a different candidate, and 20 percent would vote to replace the incumbent.