From Don Hunter in Anchorage -

Dave Dittman put out results this morning from a couple of polls he took this month. Basically, Dan Sullivan’s got a pretty good lead right now but the rest of the better-known candidates are packed too tight to pick apart. He questioned 376 registered voters; Dittman says the margin of error is 3 percent.

Dittman says he’s not working for any of the candidates, although he’s donated some money to Sullivan and Walt Monegan.

His most recent numbers are from a survey on Wednesday, Feb. 18:

> Sullivan: 23 percent

> Monegan: 10 percent

> Matt Claman: 10 percent

> Sheila Selkregg: 10 percent

> Eric Croft: 8 percent

> Paul Honeman: 3 percent

The winner needs 45 percent to avoid a runoff against whoever manages to finish second.

According to Dittman, about a third of those polled said they don’t know yet who they want to vote for. Two percent plan to vote for one of the other nine candidates.

And by the way, the field is down to 15 candidates now. UAA student Melanie Leydon withdrew last week and is helping with Selkregg’s campaign.