New poll: Sutherland’s up over Goldmark, but Obama factor remains…

Just as we’re publishing my overview of the race for state lands commissioner comes a new poll from SurveyUSA.

The poll suggests that Republican incumbent Doug Sutherland is a bit further ahead of Democratic challenger Peter Goldmark than other recent polls or the August primary would indicate. It puts Sutherland ahead, 47 percent to Goldmark’s 38 percent.

Still, it’s a down-ballot race — meaning few people know much about the job or the candidates — and undecided voters accounted for 15 percent of the responses. Goldmark, like Democratic attorney general candidate John Ladenburg, is presumably hoping for a lift from Democratic Obama voters.

But SurveyUSA says it better:

“…In a state where Democrat Barack Obama is leading Republican John McCain by 16 points, the length of Obama’s coattails may impact this down-ticket race.”

Stay tuned.