By Katherine Gregg
Journal State House Bureau

PROVIDENCE -- In a four way Democratic Party primary race for governor in 2010, General Treasurer Frank Caprio and Attorney General Patrick Lynch would have an edge, according to a new public-opinion survey made public today by veteran pollster Victor Profughi.

Out of 400 randomly selected voters contacted Feb. 24-25, he found 54.4 percent saying they were anywhere from "somewhat'' to "very likely'' to vote for Caprio, 50.1 percent inclined for vote for Lynch, 37.6 percent leaning towards Providence Mayor David Cicilline, and 35.7 percent for Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts.

Profughi did not ask direct horse race questions. Nor did he ask questions about the potential impact on the race if former U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee ran as an independent.

But he did ask: "If you had to chose a Democrat, would you be more likely to vote for ... Frank Caprio, David Cicilline, Patrick Lynch.'' The results: Caprio netted 30 percent, Lynch 17.4 percent, Cicilline 13 percent and Roberts 12.4 percent.

Another 11.3 percent said they would not vote for a Democrat, and 15.8 percent said at this point, they do not know.

On the Republican side, 16.3 percent said they were leaning toward state Rep. Joseph Trillo, and 33 percent towards former Cranston mayor and unsuccessful 2006 U.S. Senate candidate Steve Laffey.

If they "had to choose a Republican,'' Laffey lead with 29.3 percent over Trillo's 6.9 percent, while a majority said they did not know (26.2 percent) or would not vote Republican (37.6 percent).

Profughi said his poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent.