Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards' campaign team has released an internal poll showing Edwards with a wide lead over Republican Eddie Rispone in an effort to dispel some sentiment the governor faces an uphill battle to win the Nov. 16 runoff election.

The survey conducted by ALG Research shows Edwards leading with 52% compared to Rispone at 36%.

Many view internal polls with skepticism compared to independent polls because they can be used to tell a positive story for the candidate who paid for them.

The campaign said the survey was taken before Saturday's primary election from Sept. 30-Oct. 3 with 600 likely voters.

Edwards finished first in Saturday's primary election with 47%, while Rispone earned a spot in the runoff with 27%. Congressman Ralph Abraham, the other leading GOP candidate, was third with 24%.

Though Edwards' primary election results were far in front of Rispone's, the two Republicans candidates together topped 51%.

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That means Edwards will likely have to pull some of Abraham's support to his column.

Abraham endorsed Rispone Saturday night, but the two men waged a fractious campaign during the primary.

ALG's poll shows 12% of Abraham's voters said they will vote for Edwards in the runoff with 15% of them undecided.

No incumbent governor has won when pushed to a runoff, although it's only happened once in modern history in 1987 when then Gov. Edwin Edwards conceded to Buddy Roemer after the primary.

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ALG's poll also shows Edwards' with a 60% positive job rating, but that would also be an indication some voters who approve of Edwards' job voted for one of the Republicans in the primary anyway.

Rispone, meanwhile, has a 32% favorable rating and a 38% unfavorable rating in the poll.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.