RALEIGH, N.C. — Richard Vinroot is the man to beat in the Republican gubernatorial primary. A new WRAL Voters' Voice poll keeps the former Charlotte mayor in front of the six-candidate pack.

Experts said that, for many people still undecided, Tuesday's vote may come down to name recognition.

Our

Voters' Voice

poll is a collaboration between WRAL-TV, WUNC-FM, and the

News and Observer.

In the survey of 600 likely voters, 35 percent said they would vote for Richard Vinroot in the Republican primary for governor. Patrick Ballantine and Bill Cobey tied for second at 24 percent each.

Support for the other three candidates was in the single digits, with 11 percent of the voters undecided.

While the percentage of undecideds is going down, the poll is consistent a recent WRAL

Mason-Dixon poll

that also placed Vinroot in the lead.

Neither poll gives Vinroot the 40 percent needed to avoid a runoff.

The eventual Republican nominee faces an uphill climb against Gov. Easley. The new poll that shows 57 percent believe Easley is doing a good or excellent job, while only 23 percent said they would vote to replace him.