Ed Case’s U.S. Senate campaign released poll results today showing him to be in a virtual tie with opponent Mazie Hirono.

Capitol Watch reports:

The interactive-voice-response survey of 667 likely Democratic primary voters over May 15-16 shows Case leading Hirono 46-45 percent with 9 percent undecided.

The poll results are very similar to a Civil Beat poll conducted in January, but it is difficult to assess the validity of the Case poll because it’s unclear exactly what questions voters were asked. The survey was conducted by Boston-based Public Strategy Group.

Case called the poll “encouraging” and said it showed he had momentum and broader appeal than Hirono.

Carolyn Tanaka, deputy campaign manager for communications, Mazie for Hawaii, issued this statement regarding the poll: “It is difficult to comment on a poll that seems to have little meat and information about how it was conducted and therefore doesn’t meet any level of transparency.”

Ed Hasegawa, Lloyd Nekoba and Audrey Case at Ed Case’s headquarters.