State Sen. Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, Monday released poll numbers showing her with an 11-point lead over Republican candidate Martin Ozinga III of Homer Glen.

They and Green Party candidate Jason Wallace of Normal, are seeking to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Morris, in the 11th Congressional District. According to results of the poll of 500 likely voters, when asked how they would vote today, she was winning 43 percent to 32 percent for Ozinga with Wallace winning 6 percent. The margin of error was 4.4 percent.

Undecided voters, who made up the remaining 18 percent, said they generally favored a Democrat over a Republican by 33 percent to 19 percent. A summary of the poll by Halvorson's firm, Anzalone Liszt Research, said when respondents heard "basic information" about her and Ozinga, her support increased to a 50-39 percent advantage.

A release by her campaign manager, Brian Doory, said the poll shows voters are supporting her "because of her proven leadership on economic issues," and that as "unanswered questions surrounding Ozinga's inside deals and history of engaging in pay-to-play politics mount, voters are increasingly likely to be turned off by the concrete magnate."

Doory said the respondents were supplied factual biographical data and campaign platform information on each of the candidates.

Ozinga's manager, Andy Sere, quickly responded by noting Halvorson was not leading by a greater margin, given her long record as an elected official and presumably higher name recognition. He also noted the poll did not release data on the favorable impression of the candidates.

"The failure to release image numbers puts the credibility of the poll in doubt," Sere said.

He said Ozinga will have the resources to make the case against Halvorson and overcome his lack of name recognition.

"It's early in the race. When voters learn Debbie Halvorson has used her position in the state Senate to do little more than be a rubber stamp for (Democratic Gov.) Rod Blagojevich, they will run from her faster than she is running from her own record," he said.

The poll contended respondents broke Democratic 41 percent to 35 percent Republican in party self-identification, though Sere said that contradicts voting patterns in the district. George W. Bush won the district by 53-46 percent over Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., in 2004 and Weller won by 55-45 percent in 2006 over Democratic candidate John Pavich.

Still, the poll found Bush unpopular, with just 36 percent giving him a favorable rating. Congressional Republicans got a 40 percent unfavorable rating compared to 49 percent favorable for congressional Democrats.

It also found the economy was the top concern of an outright majority, 52 percent of respondents. Among voters who said the economy was their top or second most important issue, Halvorson led by 52 percent to 21 percent for Ozinga.