Greg Hilburn | The News Star

Greg Hilburn/USA Today Network

A new poll shows Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards with a significant lead over GOP opponents U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham and businessman Eddie Rispone, though few of those surveyed are yet familiar with the governor's challengers.

The poll was commissioned by Education Reform Now Advocacy, a charter school-friendly group that generally supports Democrats, and conducted by LJR Custom Strategies.

Forty-five percent of those surveyed said they would vote for Edwards if the election were held today, followed by 17 percent who would vote for Abraham and 4 percent for Rispone. Thirty-two percent were unsure, and 1 percent would vote for someone else.

Fifty-three percent of the 600 likely voters who responded to the survey Jan. 14-27 identified as Democrats, 34 percent as Republicans and 13 percent as no party or other.

The poll showed Edwards leading Abraham 47 percent to 27 percent in a head-to-head race and the governor leading Rispone 47 percent to 19 percent in a one-on-one matchup.

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Fifty percent gave Edwards a positive job rating, double the number who gave him a negative rating, while they gave Abraham a 22 percent positive rating and Rispone a 10 percent positive job rating.

Abraham's and Rispone's approval ratings are skewed because they're both still relatively unknown.

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Abraham represents Louisiana's sprawling 5th Congressional District with Monroe and Alexandria as its population centers. Rispone is a wealthy Baton Rouge businessman who has been particularly active in education reform and school choice.

Forty-nine percent of those surveyed said they either didn't recognize Abraham's name or didn't know enough about the three-term congressman to rate him. That number was 56 percent with Rispone.

By contrast, only 8 percent said they either didn't recognize Edwards or didn't know enough about the governor to rate him.

Thirty-six percent said they believe Louisiana is heading in right direction (up from 16 percent last spring), while 26 percent said the state is headed in the wrong direction, 33 percent said it was a combination and 5 percent said they weren't sure.

Eva Kemp, who leads Education Reform Now Advocacy in Louisiana, said the group will support Edwards and other candidates during the coming election cycle through its political action committee or independent expenditures. "I think this shows the governor is in a good spot," she said.

But Abraham's campaign contends the poll shows weakness for the governor.

"You know things are bad when the best the governor can tout is a poll — run by his own supporters — that shows fewer than half of Louisiana wants him back next year," said Lionel Rainey III. "The people are tired of Edwards' tax-and-spend administration, and Ralph is the clear conservative alternative."

Among other poll results outside of the governor's race:

School choice: 62 percent said they were more likely to support a candidate for the Legislature if he or she "supports allowing students and their families to choose which public school is best for them."

Top issues: Economy and jobs, 37 percent; education, 35 percent, crime and criminal justice, 28 percent; health care, 20 percent; taxes, 18 percent; traffic and transportation, 12 percent; state budget and spending, 11 percent; coastal restoration, 8 percent; and voting rights, 2 percent.

Teacher pay raise: 74 percent support, the largest percentage for any question asked.

Minimum wage: 73 percent either "strongly" support or support a state minimum wage above the current federal minimum of $7.25 per hour.