Harrisburg, Pa. - Democratic voters in Harrisburg have three choices for mayor in the May 19 Primary Election. They are incumbent Stephen Reed, City Council President Linda Thompson and activist Les Ford.

A new poll conducted exclusively for abc27 News has Reed in front. Reed leads with 44 percent. Thompson has 29 percent. Ford has 8 percent. 350 likely Democratic voters took part in the automated poll by Susquehanna Polling & Research. The margin of error is five percent.

With less than two weeks to go until Election Day, 19 percent of the voters polled said they still had not made up their minds.

"Those undecided voters are very critical to the Thompson and Reed campaigns because this race is still not won for the mayor based on this poll," said James Lee of SP&R.

Lee said Reed dominated in the Uptown and Midtown neighborhoods. Thompson drew closer in Allison Hill and South Harrisburg. Lee said Thompson needs the support of first-time voters from last fall's Presidential election to have a chance.

"When I looked at those voters as a sub-group, she's beating the mayor," said Lee. "So the challenge is for her to get more of those people out."

Lee said Ford's candidacy actually works in Reed's favor, especially if Ford pulls five to ten percent of the vote on election night.

"That's a very formidable obstacle for Linda Thompson to overcome when that anti-Reed vote is being split between two African-American challengers," said Lee.

The poll also asked if voters thought the city was heading in the right direction. A near majority, 45 percent, said yes. Lee said that bodes well for Reed.

For the complete poll results, go to http://cfc.whtm.com/external.cfm?p=sprmayorpoll050609

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