For the first time since May, State Attorney General Mike Beebe’s lead in the race for Arkansas governor is back to double digits (see crosstabs). The latest Rasmussen Reports election survey shows Beebe leading Asa Hutchinson 49% to 38%. Hutchinson had closed to within four points of Beebe in August’s poll.

Both candidates now have the support of their party faithful. Eighty percent (80%) of Democratic voters say they support Beebe’ candidacy while 77% of Republicans who support Hutchinson.

Twenty-eight percent (28%) of voters say they have a “very favorable” opinion of Beebe—a six-point jump from the previous poll. Hutchinson has added two points to the same score (22%) over the same period. Both candidates have added two points to their “very unfavorable” scores (10% for Beebe and 16% for Hutchinson.)

A majority of voters (51%) sees Hutchinson as politically conservative while 23% say he’s a moderate.

The frontrunner, Beebe, is considered politically moderate by a solid plurality (46%) of the state’s voters.. Twenty-four percent (24%) say he’s liberal and 15% say he’s conservative.

When asked whom they trust more on matters relating to national security and Iraq, 48% say the Democrats in Congress and 43% say President Bush. When the same question is asked of the economy, respondents are more decided: 51% trust Congressional Democrats and 38% trust the president.

Beebe got a boost last week from a very prominent Democrat—former President Bill Clinton—who attended two fundraisers for the candidate that added $600,000 to his campaign war chest. Clinton’s visit was preceded by one from President Bush, whose appearance generated $400,000 for Hutchinson and an additional $250,000 for the state Republican Party. The money likely will be back out the door as soon as the checks are cashed as both candidates blanket the airwaves with statewide media buys.

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