SAN DIEGO -- A new 10News poll showed the race to become San Diego County's next sheriff is the most wide-open race in 15 years.

The primary election is seven months away, and while many San Diegans have not yet made up their minds, 10News' poll of 400 likely voters showed the current county sheriff, Bill Gore, is facing an uphill battle.

Gore was appointed by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to fill out the rest of Bill Kolender's term after Kolender retired in July.

According to 10News' poll, Jim Duffy, son of former sheriff John Duffy, is currently 10 points ahead of Gore. Duffy is favored by 24 percent, Gore by 14 percent -- tied with former assemblyman Jay LaSeur. Bruce Ruff has five percent and 42 percent are undecided.

"I'm very pleased by the results. I think it shows we've been working very hard and shows I've got a broad base of support all over this county," said Duffy.

Political analyst Carl Luna pointed out, "You're months away from the election. Most people aren't paying attention to it. They probably couldn't mention who the county sheriff currently is. Duffy has the advantage of family name recognition, long association with the office."

"Your father was the sheriff for 20 years. Is that a factor?" asked 10News' Hal Clement.

"I think it's one of the things people identify with … someone named Duffy protecting them in this county for nearly five decades," said Duffy.

The 10News poll indicated Gore's support is disproportionately Hispanic. Duffy, who spent 22 years with the sheriff's department, has support across race, age, gender and party lines.

As for the power of being the incumbent, Luna said, "I've got two words to say on this: Gerald Ford. To inherit an office does not usually parlay into holding onto that office."

San Diego sheriffs do tend to stay in office for a while, but Jim Roache was an exception when he served from 1991 to 1994. Before Roache, John Duffy was sheriff for 20 years. After Roache, Kolender served as sheriff for 14 years.