In 2004, President Bush won the Electoral College votes from Kansas with 62% of the popular vote. The latest telephone survey from Rasmussen Reports suggests that Kansas is likely to stay in the Republican column during Election 2008 as well. Senator Hillary Clinton's presidential bid attracts no more than 38% support in Kansas when matched against any of four leading Republican Presidential candidates.

Arizona Senator John McCain leads Clinton by 23 percentage points, 55% to 32%. Rudy Giuliani leads Clinton by thirteen points (49% to 36%), Mitt Romney leads the former First Lady by twelve (47% to 35%) and Mike Huckabee leads Clinton by nine (47% to 38%).

McCain attracts more Republicans and conservatives than the other GOP candidates and is the only one with a clear advantage over Clinton among unaffiliated voters. More Democrats, too, defect to the Republican side when McCain is her opponent.

Senator McCain enjoys the highest overall favorable rating in the state at 61%. He is followed by Giuliani with 57%, Huckabee with 50%, Romney with 47%, and Clinton with 41%. Clinton is viewed unfavorably by 56% of Kansas voters, Very Unfavorably by 36%.

McCain’s favorable ratings have been coming back all over the nation including his home state of Arizona.

Given six GOP candidates to assess, 22% of Kansas voters say McCain is the one "most in tune with the attitudes and needs of Kansas"; the runner-up is Mike Huckabee with 16%. When looking at three Democratic candidates—Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards—17% say Clinton is most in tune with Kansas, 18% say Obama, 18% say Edwards, and 36% say None of the Above.

Despite attracting 62% of the Kansas vote in Election 2004, President George W. Bush earns Good or Excellent reviews from just 44% of Kansas voters. Thirty-eight percent (38%) say he is doing a Poor job as President.

Forty-nine percent (49%) rate the job performance of Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius as Good or Excellent. Twenty-eight percent (28%) say she’s done a Fair job while 21% say Poor.

Asked to contemplate the 2010 race for governor, 25% of Kansas voters say Sam Brownback would be their first choice; 17% say Jerry Moran and 11% named Paul Morrison. Forty percent (40%) are Not Sure.

A bare plurality of 22% say the Economy is the most important issue for Election 2008. But 21% cite the War on Terror and 19% the War in Iraq. Government Ethics and Corruption, which in other surveys is considered Very Important by a large and bipartisan majority, is ranked #1 by just 9%.

Kansas lacks a citizen initiative process, and 58% think the state should give its citizens the opportunity to vote on issues directly. Sixty-four percent (64%) would favor an initiative requiring voter approval of tax increases.

The survey was conducted in partnership with Fox Television Stations, Inc.

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