This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Posted: 8:02 AM- A straw poll of University of Utah students gives mayoral candidate Ralph Becker an edge over Dave Buhler - albeit slight - in the contest to succeed Mayor Rocky Anderson.
The Hinckley Institute of Politics poll shows 45 percent support Becker, 42 percent prefer Buhler, and 12 percent are undecided or voted for "other."
A total of 1,768 students cast votes in the straw poll, conducted at the college campus Oct. 16-25.
Perhaps surprising, the straw poll showed more Mormon students prefer Becker, a non-Mormon Democrat, over Buhler, a Mormon Republican. That breakdown was 41 percent to 35 percent.
Kirk Jowers, director of the institute, explained that campus-identification numbers were required to prevent multiple votes.
Nearly 70 percent of the students oppose the controversial school-voucher measure known as Referendum 1, while 30 percent favor vouchers.
And in the 2008 presidential sweepstakes, 30 percent pick Mitt Romney, 28 percent want Barack Obama, and 16 percent prefer Hillary Clinton.
Just 6 percent of the students who cast votes went with GOP front-runner Rudy Giuliani.
Thirty percent of the U. students identified themselves as Republican, 29 percent as Democrat and 33 percent as unaffiliated or independent.