Rather than spinning results of an independent poll showing U.S. Rep. Chris Carney narrowly ahead of Republican challenger Chris Hackett, the incumbent is questioning how the survey was conducted.

SurveyUSA's poll of 623 people Aug. 23-25 for Roll Call, a newspaper that focuses on Capitol Hill, showed Carney with 49 percent support compared with Hackett's 45 percent in the rural, conservative 10th Congressional District.

The poll has a four-point margin of error and the Hackett campaign touted it as favorable to his campaign.

"This is a very tight race," Hackett campaign manager Mark D. Harris said Wednesday. "I think the bottom line is that Carney can't get over the 50 percent mark, even after he's used a month of air time trying to disguise his liberal record."

Roll Call attributed Carney's slight edge to support he has from independents and moderates.

Instead of pointing out that Hackett, a wealthy Shavertown businessman, is still lagging despite his GOP credentials, Carney's staff questioned the methodology of the automated SurveyUSA poll.

Marjie Omero, president of Momentum Analysis, a Washington, D.C., public opinion research firm serving Democrats, said the SurveyUSA poll doesn't accurately convey voter sentiment because it wasn't limited to registered voters.

And although Omero said a poll her firm conducted for the Democratic candidate Aug. 19-21 shows Carney leading by 2 to 1, the results weren't released until Wednesday when The Daily Item asked about the SurveyUSA poll.

Omero said of the 400 registered voters asked for which candidate they would vote if the election were held today, 54 percent were for Carney and 27 percent said Hackett.

Of the respondents, 28 percent said they "strongly" support Carney, of Dimock, and 14 percent "strongly" support Hackett.

Carney led in favorable ratings with 53 percent to Hackett's 27. The candidates' unfavorable rating is nearly identical at 18 percent and 19 percent, respectively.

Harris would not release internal polls done by the Hackett campaign, but wasn't impressed with the opponent's polling results.

"Carney can make up any numbers he wants. Obviously an independent poll is more credible," he said.

Hackett plans to spend the next few months attacking Carney's record on voting for the marriage penalty and death taxes, earmarks and energy.

"Democrats have control in the House and their record (on energy) is a failure," Harris said.