Business leaders split on which party will win the gov’s race

During the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s legislative session preview on Thursday, Politics in Minnesota and Capitol Report polled participants on some key policy and political questions. While the results are hardly scientific, they provide an interesting glimpse into how business and political leaders view some of the issues that legislators will be grappling with at the Capitol in the coming months.

Perhaps the most intriguing result: poll respondents were perfectly split on which of the two dominant political parties they think will win the 2010 gubernatorial contest. The GOP and DFL were each picked by 46 percent of those surveyed, while 7 percent went with the Independence Party.

Poll respondents were united, however, in their pessimism about the legislative session that opened on Thursday. Only 10 percent of those surveyed indicated a belief that the Legislature and Gov. Tim Pawlenty will be able to agree on a solution to close the state’s $1.2 billion budget deficit.

The group also expressed broad opposition to raising taxes in order to cure the state’s budgetary problems. Just 11 percent indicated support for increased revenue, while 63 percent endorsed redesigning state services to save money and 26 percent advocated reducing state programs.

On the issue of health care reform, most respondents indicated that they don’t expect the federal bill being debated in Washington to be passed. Almost 60 percent predicted that the bill won’t become law this year.

Poll respondents, however, weren’t pessimistic about all pressing topics. On the subject of whether Brett Favre will be the Minnesota Vikings’ starting quarterback next season, 63 percent indicated a belief that he’ll be clad in purple again come September.