An independent poll published Monday showed the race between Republican Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, and Democrat Jerry McNerney to be tight, with McNerney holding a statistically insignificant lead of 48 percent to 46 percent.

The RT Strategies and Constituent Dynamics poll interviewed 983 voters in the district from Oct. 24 through Thursday, but McNerney’s spokesman said the results were skewed in favor of Pombo because the percentage of Republicans interviewed was higher than the percentage of Republicans who live in the district.

Pombo’s campaign also challenged the poll, saying that it was laughable to suggest only 6 percent of voters were undecided.

First Lady Laura Bush will host a rally to support Pombo’s re-election bid in Pleasanton on Friday morning, according to a Pombo campaign spokesman.

President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and House Majority Leader John Boehner have already appeared in the 11th District this year to drum up support and campaign cash for Pombo.

The National Republican Congressional Committee has spent more than a million dollars advertising on Pombo’s behalf, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee began advertising last week on behalf of McNerney.