Deal maintains lead over Barnes

Nathan Deal holds a nine-point lead over Roy Barnes in the race for Georgia governor, according to a recent poll.

The Rasmussen Reports poll released on Thursday shows Deal, a Republican, with 50 percent to 41 percent for Barnes, a Democrat. Libertarian John Monds has 3 percent of the vote, the poll suggests; 3 percent of voters are undecided.

Deal, a former congressman who resigned in March to run for governor, has maintained his lead in the polls despite negative coverage concerning his finances and his ethics standing while in Congress. Barnes, a former governor, has remained around the 40 percent mark in a number of polls.

“We’re grateful for the continued support we’re receiving from Georgia’s voters,” WAGA-TV quoted Deal as saying, according to a report on its website. “I think they’re responding to my vision for lower taxes on families and job creators.”

The Rasmussen Reports poll also revealed that 27 percent of Georgia voters consider themselves members of the Tea Party.