Patrick leads, but Baker surging: Support slumps for Cahill in poll; tighter race reflects uneasy electorate

The Boston Globe reports:

Governor Deval Patrick has improved his political standing in recent months but still faces major hurdles in his bid for reelection, according to a new Boston Globe poll, which shows Republican rival Charles D. Baker gaining ground and many voters dissatisfied with the direction of the state and the governor’s handling of his job.

Patrick won the support of 38 percent of likely voters in the survey, while Baker, who is still unknown to much of the electorate, received 31 percent. State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill, a former Democrat running as an independent, trailed far behind with 9 percent. Green-Rainbow candidate Jill Stein received 2 percent.