Governor Deval Patrick continued his hold on the lead in the latest Rasmussen survey, holding a 47% to 42% lead over Charlie Baker, with Tim Cahill at 6%. The results include “leaners”, which Rasmussen includes in their later polling. Cahill issued a statement criticizing Rasmussen for including “leaners” in Massachusetts, but not in Maine. The statement is below. Cahill sees a Republican conspiracy in Rasmussens inclusion of leaners. But without leaners Cahill comes in at 14%, which is better than 6% but nothing to be excited about with two weeks to go. Not sure I would be pumping my chest out about either number at this point.

Charlie Baker has not been able to get over that small margin the Governor has had on him since his announcement. Time is slipping away for Baker, and I am not sure that the small ball of advocating for term limits is going to turn this thing around for him. He will have to do better. He did pick up the Herald endorsement today, which is as shocking as the impending Globe endorsement of Deval Patrick.

Cahill’s new ad is below. Don’t mean to pick on the guy but it seems more like a start the campaign ad than a closer. Introductions usually come first.

The statement from the Cahill campaign.

The latest Rasmussen poll shows Tim Cahill gaining support as the governor’s race enters the final two weeks of the campaign. Without leaners, Cahill is at 14% — up from 11% in the last Rasmussen poll. Rasmussen includes leaners in the Massachusetts polling, but not in the Maine gubernatorial race to apparently benefit the Republican candidates in both states.

“We call on Rasmussen Reports to release the full results of its polls in Massachusetts, rather than mislead voters by releasing selective information. This poll clearly shows that Tim Cahill is gaining ground in the critical stretch before Election Day, not fading as Scott Rasmussen predicted,” said Cahill Campaign Manager Scott Campbell.

Rasmussen describes, “Leaners are those who initially indicate no preference for either of the candidates but answer a follow-up question and say they are leaning towards a particular candidate. The approach anticipates that support for third party candidates typically declines as Election Day nears and voters begin to gravitate toward one of the major party nominees. Rasmussen Reports now considers results with leaners the primary indicator of the race.”

“Our numbers are not fading; Tim Cahill is gaining ground in the polls in the final days, as some opponents lose points. We are in this race to win it.” said Campbell.