MEMORANDUM

TO: FROM: RE: DATE:

Interested Parties Global Strategy Group Indiana Senate Race 10.31.12

Donnelly Takes Commanding Lead in Race for U.S. Senate

Hoosiers Reject Mourdocks Extreme Views
With less than one week to go until Election Day, Joe Donnelly has opened up a commanding lead over Richard Mourdock in the race for U.S. Senate, according to a recent survey of 600 likely voters in Indiana conducted by Global Strategy Group between October 28 and October 30, 2012. The margin of error at the 95% confidence level is +/- 4.0%. Key findings include: Donnelly leads Mourdock by 7 points in a 3-way race and 9 points in a 2-way race: Though Republicans continue to have a significant advantage when it comes to party identification 48% of voters in the state self-identify as Republicans, while just 38% selfidentify as Democrats Donnelly leads Mourdock, 43% to 36%, in the race for U.S. Senate while third party candidate, Horning, remains a distant third (9%). In a 2-way race, Donnelly leads Mourdock by a 9-point margin, 47% to 38%. Following his comments at the debate, Mourdocks unfavorable ratings increased dramatically: Mourdocks controversial comments at last weeks debate did not sit well with Hoosiers. A near majority of voters (49% unfavorable) now give Mourdock an unfavorable rating, including 36% who are strongly unfavorable toward him. This represents a sharp increase in his unfavorable ratings (+9 points since October 21). Undecided voters are extremely unfavorable toward Mourdock: Those voters who have yet to make up their mind in the race for U.S. Senate do not like what they see when it comes to Mourdock. Just 8% of undecided voters give Mourdock a favorable rating, while 46% give him an unfavorable rating.

The bottom line is this: Hoosier voters are poised to elect Joe Donnelly as their next United States Senator. Throughout the cycle, Hoosiers have had strong reservations about Richard Mourdocks extremist and obstructionist approach to politics, and his comments during last weeks debate just served to reinforce those concerns. Voters want a candidate who will work with Democrats and Republicans to do what is best for Indiana, and that candidate is Joe Donnelly. Newspapers from across the state have said that Joe Donnelly is the best choice for Hoosiers, and it is clear that voters agree.

NEW YORK WASHINGTON, D.C. HARTFORD LOS ANGELES GLOBALSTRATEGYGROUP.COM