Coakley Grabs Solid Lead In Senate Poll

As the special election for the U.S. Senate seat that was held by the late Edward M. Kennedy approaches, a new poll of likely voters suggests Democratic contender Martha Coakley has a 15 point lead over her Republican opponent, Scott Brown.

Fifty percent of respondents said they support Coakley, 35 percent Brown, 9 percent were undecided and 5 percent support independent candidate Joseph L. Kennedy.

Andy Smith is the director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center and conducted the research for the Boston Globe.

"Coakley has a large, significant lead," Smith said. "There are some areas of weakness, but all in all she is in a commanding position."

Forty-two percent of respondents said they trusted Coakley on issues most important to them and 61 percent said they had a favorable view of the attorney general.

Forty-four percent of the likely voters said they had a favorable view of Brown, a state senator from Wrentham.

The election will be held Jan. 19.