A Cave Creek Republican says he will release a poll June 6 showing he could beat Governor Napolitano in 2006 by more than 21 percentage points.

And John Hoeppner, a researcher who says he is not a candidate for the office, wrote that he can defend the poll results — even though he conducted the survey himself and was the subject of the survey.

Mr. Hoeppner, president of NameQuest, said in an e-mail to Arizona Capitol Times he “is placing his reputation as a respected researcher on the line” with his “random sample of 230 registered voters representing all 14 Arizona counties.” [Arizona has 15 counties.]

The poll shows him stronger than Ms. Napolitano on border control issues, family values and gun rights and would defeat her 60.9 per cent to 39.1 per cent if the election were held today.

“Republican challengers have retreated needlessly,” Mr. Hoeppner said.

“NameQuest will supply the respondents’ names and contact information to members deemed to be credible news media reporters,” he said.

Long-time Valley pollsters Bruce Merrill at Arizona State University and Earl de Berg, director of the Rocky Mountain Poll, reviewed Mr. Hoeppner’s findings.

Mr. de Berg said the poll was a thinly disguised promotional piece, and that Mr. Hoeppner did not explain his sampling method, which “leaves us suspicious.”

“The result of his test elections are laughable if offered as a reflection of Arizona,” Mr. de Berg said, “not so laughable if a ‘panel of voters’ from which he drew his ‘random sample’ includes all his golf pals and extended family who are still talking to him.” —