Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor (D) has inched within six points of incumbent Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) in the increasingly competitive Georgia governor’s race, according to a new Strategic Visions poll.

Perdue leads Taylor 50 to 44 percent, compared to 52 to 40 percent nearly a year ago. Against Secretary of State Cathy Cox (D), Taylor’s primary challenger, Perdue faired better, 53 to 40 percent.

Cox’s competitiveness in the poll has fallen over the past year. In August 2005 she was within six points of Perdue. In a Democratic trial heat, Taylor led Cox 46 to 42 percent. Previously Cox had led Taylor, most recently in May 47 to 42 percent.

The poll comes as Cox has launched what the Atlanta Journal Constitution calls a misleading ad against Taylor, alleging that he used free prison labor in 1999. The state primary elections will take place July 18.

The Strategic Visions poll is available to Polling Report subscribers here. Portions of the poll are available for free here.