Yet another poll shows former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel increasing her lead in tomorrow's Republican primary for governor. The new Magellan Strategies (R) survey (July 18, 1181 LV) comes one week after Sarah Palin announced her support for Handel.

Handel 38 (+6 vs. last poll, July 8 )
Deal 20 (+2)
Oxendine 12 (-6)
Johnson 17 (+5)

Absent a surge in support by tomorrow, Handel will likely need a runoff to win the nomination, as she remains well below the 50 percent needed. Nathan Deal, who resigned his seat earlier this year to focus on a run for governor, is currently in second and, if polling holds, would face Handel in the Aug. 10 runoff.

Since tying for the lead in a poll conducted Tuesday, the day after Palin's endorsement, Handel has led in the last three polls. State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine had been considered the frontrunner until last week, after leading all but two polls since February.

It appears Handel picked up much of her increase in support from Oxendine voters, who switched over following Palin's endorsement. Palin has put her touch on other races around the country as well, including the neighboring South Carolina GOP gubernatorial primary, which Nikki Haley won after a runoff.

The eventual Republican nominee will likely take on former Gov. Roy Barnes. RCP rates the general election race Leans Republican.

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