John McCain enjoys a strong double digit lead over both Democratic Presidential hopefuls in the state of Tennessee. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds McCain leading Barack Obama 58% to 31%. The presumptive GOP nominee leads Hillary Clinton 52% to 38%.

McCain is viewed favorably by 65% of Volunteer State voters while Clinton earns favorable reviews from 45%. The numbers for Obama are bleak—39% favorable and 59% unfavorable. That latter figure includes 40% with a Very Unfavorable opinion of the Democratic frontrunner.

President George W. Bush won Tennessee’s 11 Electoral Votes by a 57% to 43% margin in Election 2004. Four years earlier, Bush defeated Al Gore by four points in the state, even though Gore had represented Tennessee in the United States Senate.

Forty-five percent (45%) Tennessee voters view the economy as the most important voting issue for Election 2008. Fourteen percent (14%) name the War in Iraq as the top issue while 12% say National Security should be the highest priority.

Seventeen percent (17%) rate the U.S. economy as good or excellent while 45% say it is in poor shape. Just 10% say the economy is getting better while 72% say it is getting worse. Those figures are similar to the totals nationwide as measured by the Rasmussen Consumer Index.

Fifty-four percent (54%) in Tennessee say that the U.S. and its allies are winning the War on Terror. Just 17% believe the terrorists are winning. That’s a bit more optimistic than the national average. Thirty-eight percent (38%) believe the situation in Iraq will improve over the next six months while 33% expect it to get worse.

Sixty-two percent (62%) say that American society is generally fair and decent while 26% view it as unfair and discriminatory.

Tennessee is rated as Safely Republican in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator.

Rasmussen Markets data immediately prior to release of this poll suggested that Republicans were heavily favored to win Tennessee this November (current prices: Republican %; Democrat %). We invite you to participate in the Rasmussen Markets. It costs nothing to join and add your voice to the collective wisdom of the market.

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