On May 20, voters in Kentucky will have their say in the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination. The first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of that race shows Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama by twenty-five percentage points, 56% to 31%.

Seventy-eight percent (78%) of the state’s Likely Primary Voters say they’re likely to vote for Clinton over McCain in the general election. Just 55% are likely to vote for Obama over McCain.

Oregon votes that same day and a separate survey found that Obama has the edge in that West Coast state. In between is West Virginia a state that looks very favorable for Clinton. Nationally, the candidates remain close in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

In Kentucky, Clinton and Obama are essentially even with the under 30 voters but Clinton does very well among those over 30. Obama leads among those who consider the War in Iraq as the most important issue. Clinton leads among those who consider the economy, health care, or other issues as the top priority. Clinton does best among lower income voters while Obama is essentially even among those earning at least $75,000 a year.

Fifty-five percent (55%) of Likely Democratic Primary voters in the state favor a federal gas tax holiday for the summer while 34% are opposed. Fifty-nine percent (59%) correctly identify Obama as the candidate who opposes a temporary suspension of the federal tax on gasoline (11% thought Clinton was opposed, 10% McCain, and 20% were not sure).

Fifty-four percent (54%) are worried that the next President will raise taxes too much and hurt the economy. That figure includes 24% who are Very Worried. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of Clinton voters are worried that the next President will raise taxes too much. Only 41% of Obama’s voters are that worried.

At the other extreme, 42% are worried that the next President will cut taxes so much that it will harm important government programs. Only 11% are Very Worried that the next President will cut taxes to much. Forty-seven percent (47%) of Obama voters are worried that the next President will cut taxes too much. Thirty-nine percent (39%) of Clinton voters share that concern.

Overall, Democratic Primary Voters in Kentucky are evenly divided as to whether the federal government needs more tax revenue to fund important national programs such as highway repairs and health care reform. Forty-one percent (41%) say more revenue in needed while 40% say it is not.

Just 26% favor raising the capital gains tax while 48% are opposed. A majority of middle income voters in the Democratic Primary own at least $5,000 worth of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Even among those who earn $20,000 to $40,000 annually, 34% belong to the Investor Class.

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