(Morrisville, NC)  – Yesterday, the Carolina Strategy Group released a poll showing challenger Tom Murry with a solid lead in the race for North Carolina’s 41st House District.  The independent survey found that if the election for House of Representatives were held today, 45 percent  of respondents would vote for Tom Murry, while only 35 percent would vote for Chris Heagarty — the incumbent and former lobbyist, appointed by Governor Beverly Perdue to fill the seat of Ty Harrell.  Harrell was forced to resign because of alleged campaign finance and ethics violations.

“This poll shows that our message of improving the economy, creating jobs and cutting wasteful government spending is resonating,” said Tom Murry.  ”We’ve talked to thousands of voters in the district, and it’s clear to us they have a strong desire for new direction and fresh leadership.  I stand ready to provide leadership in solving our most pressing challenges.”

When asked whether state elected leaders should cut government spending over raising taxes, 57 percent of the voters in District 41 would rather see cuts in government spending versus only 28 percent who would favor raising taxes to balance the budget.

“Our state is facing a potential $3 billion dollar deficit in 2011, and we have to make some critical decisions about and reining in future deficits,” remarked Murry.  ”The choice for voters is obvious:  we can continue down the path the current leadership has taken us, or we can move in a new direction, repair our economy, get people back to work and stop the runaway train of wasteful government spending.  I look forward to making this choice clear to the voters of District 41 all the way to Election Day.”

The survey of 300 North Carolina voters living in NC House District41 was conducted on August 10, 2010 through an automated phone system with a margin of error of 5.77 percent.