Four years after he left the U.S. Senate, Mark Dayton (D) can claim frontrunner status as he runs for Minnesota governor, based on numbers from a Minnesota Public Radio / Humphrey Institute poll.

Democratic Primary Election Matchup
Dayton 38
Kelliher 28
Entenza 6
Und 28

Margaret Anderson Kelliher, speaker of the state House, won the state party's endorsement. The primary is not until September 14 August 10. In the general election, Dayton is the only Democrat who leads state Rep. Tom Emmer, the endorsed candidate of Minnesota Republicans.

General Election Matchups
(701 RVs, 5/13-16, MoE +/- 5.8%)
Dayton (D) 35 -- Emmer (R) 31 -- Horner (I) 9 -- Und 25
Emmer (R) 31 -- Kelliher (D) 29 -- Horner (I) 10 -- Und 30
Emmer (R) 32 -- Entenza (D) 28 -- Horner (I) 11 -- Und 29

Outgoing Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), a potential 2012 presidential candidate, has a 43 percent job approval rating in the state, while 57 percent disapprove. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) (64 / 36), Sen. Al Franken (D) (48 / 52) and President Obama (51 / 49) all have better numbers.

RCP currently classifies the Minnesota governor race as a Toss Up.

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