BATON ROUGE - Incumbent Democratic State Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley has an 11-point lead over Republican Dan Kyle in the Nov. 15 runoff election, according to a Times/Louisiana Gannett poll released Friday.

Wooley was favored by 46 percent of those polled compared to 35 percent for Kyle in the poll of 625 likely voters conducted Tuesday through Thursday nights.

"Wooley definitely has the inside track," said Brad Coker, owner of Mason-Dixon Polling and Research Inc. of Washington, D.C.

He named both candidates' parties and designated Wooley as the incumbent when posing questions.

Wooley took over the commissioner's job upon the October 2000 conviction of former Commissioner Jim Brown.

He is a long-time friend of the former commissioner and his handpicked replacement.

Asked their opinion of Wooley, 29 percent had a favorable impression and 15 percent an unfavorable impression, with 35 percent saying they were neutral and 21 percent did not recognize his name.

Asked about Kyle, 26 percent had a favorable impression, 22 percent an unfavorable impression, 28 percent were neutral and 24 percent did not recognize his name.

"There is a chunk of voters out there who are not paying attention," Coker said.