After the FreshPAC debacle, it’s not an auspicious time to launch a political action commitee devoted to a District mayor. To avoid comparisons to FreshPAC, new Vince Gray-linked Higher Ground PAC has capped donations, planned to shut down soon—and handed over the questions treasurer Chuck Thies says the PAC polled on last night.

True to form, the PAC’s poll of likely Democratic voters focused on Gray. One question paired a hypothetical Gray against declared Democratic D.C. Council at-large candidates David Garber, incumbent Vincent Orange, and Robert White. Another compared his chances in Ward 7 against Ed Potillo or incumbent Yvette Alexander.

Interestingly, a third question in the poll substitutes Gray for restaurateur Andy Shallal in the at-large race. Other questions in the poll focused on Muriel Bowser‘s job performance and whether respondents think Gray was treated fairly by the media and federal investigators.

Thies tells LL the money for the poll were the results of phone calls to Gray supporters he made shortly after U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips closed the nearly four-year investigation into Gray’s 2010 campaign. Thies has alternately dubbed Dec. 9, the day Phillips closed the investigation, as “Exoneration Day” or—get this, readers—”Vince-dication Day.”

Read the full poll questions below:

1. How likely are you to vote in the June 14, 2016 Democratic Primary for President and DC City Council: are you certain to vote, will you probably vote, are the chances 50/50, or will you probably not vote?
If you’re certain to vote in the June 14 Democratic Primary election, press 1. If you will probably vote, press 2. If the chances are 50/50, press 3. If you will probably not vote, press 4.

2. If the Democratic candidates for President were Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley, and Bernie Sanders, who would you vote for? If Hillary Clinton, press 1. If Martin O’Malley, press 2. If Bernie Sanders, press 3. If you’re not sure, press 4.

3. If the Democratic candidates for At-Large DC Council were Vincent Orange, David Garber, Robert White, and Vince Gray, who would you vote for? If Vincent Orange, press 1. If David Garber, press 2. If Robert White, press 3. If Vince Gray, press 4. If you’re not sure, press 5.

4. If the Democratic candidates for the DC Council At-Large Primary were Vincent Orange, David Garber, Robert White and Andy Shalall, who would you vote for? If Vincent Orange, press 1. If David Garber, press 2. If Robert White, press 3. If Andy Shalall, press 4. If you’re not
sure, press 5.

5. If the Democratic candidates in the Ward 7 DC Council Primary were Yvette Alexander, Ed Potillo, and Vince Gray, who would you vote for? If Yvette Alexander, press 1. If Ed Potillo, press 2. If Vince Gray, press 3. If you’re not sure, press 4.

6. If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.

7. If you are African-American, press 1. If Hispanic, press 2. If white, press 3. If other, press 4.

8. Do you approve or disapprove of President Barack Obama’s job performance? If you approve, press 1. If you disapprove, press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.

9. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: As Mayor, Vince Gray was treated fairly by the media. If you agree that Vince Gray was treated fairly by the news media, press 1. If you disagree, press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.

10. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: As Mayor, Vince Gray was treated fairly by Federal investigators. If you agree that Vince Gray was treated fairly by Federal investigators, press 1. If you disagree, press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.

11. Do you approve or disapprove of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s job performance? If you approve, press 1. If you disapprove, press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.

12. Regardless of how you feel about Mayor Bowser’s job performance, would you say you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Muriel Bowser personally. If favorable, press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.

13. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson? If favorable, press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.

14. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Councilmember Yvette Alexander? If favorable, press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.

15. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Vince Gray? If favorable, press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.

16. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Robert White? If favorable, press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.

17. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Andy Shalall? If favorable, press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.

18. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Councilmember Vincent Orange? If favorable, press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.

19. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of David Garber? If favorable, press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.

20. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Councilmember David Grosso? If favorable, press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.

This survey has been conducted by Public Policy Polling and paid for by Higher Ground Political Action Committee. For more information visit publicpolicypolling dot com. Thanks for your participation!

Photo by Darrow Montgomery