Thursday, September 25, 2008

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John McCain’s lead over Barack Obama in Arkansas remains stable. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds the Republican leading 51% to 42%.

McCain had a 10-point lead in July and was ahead by nine points in June. His leads were nearly double that when the state’s long-serving first lady, Hillary Clinton, was still battling it out with Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.

This month, McCain leads 56% to 31% among unaffiliated voters in Arkansas. He also has a 53% to 40% advantage among men and a 50% to 43% edge among women.

Arkansas has cast its six Electoral College votes for Republican candidates in five out of the last seven Presidential elections. In 2004, George W. Bush won the state by a 54% to 45% margin.

McCain is viewed favorably by 60% of voters and unfavorably by 38%. Obama’s ratings are 47% favorable, 52% unfavorable.

Rasmussen Markets data gives McCain a % chance of carrying Arkansas this fall. These results are updated on a 24/7 basis by market participants. It costs nothing to join, so add your voice to the collective wisdom. The state is listed as “Likely Republican in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator. NOTE: Factors other than the latest Rasmussen Reports poll impact the Balance of Power ratings. The current status is indicated on the table in the upper right hand corner of this article.

Obama’s running mate, Joseph Biden, is viewed favorably by 44% of Arkansas voters and unfavorably by 49%. Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is viewed favorably by 58% and unfavorably by 39%.

Voters in Arkansas think McCain made the right choice with Palin by a 56% to 34% margin. They disagree with Obama’s choice of Biden 49% to 27%. A plurality of voters (43%) considers Palin to be very conservative. Just 17% of voters see Biden as very liberal, while 28% view the Democrat as politically moderate.

Sixty-two percent (62) of Arkansas voters say they will be voting with enthusiasm for their candidate. That number includes 77% of Obama supporters and just 57% of McCain voters. A third (33%) says they will be voting primarily against the opposing candidate, a number that includes 39% of McCain voters and 21% of Obama voters.

Though President Bush enjoyed a solid victory in the state four years ago, only 29% of voters now say he is doing a good or excellent job as president. Over half (53%) give his job performance a poor rating.

Governor Mike Beebe, a Democrat, earns good or excellent marks for his job performance from 70% of voters, while just five percent (5%) say he is doing a poor job.

Polling has been released this week for California, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Demographic crosstabs for all state polling data are available for Premium Members. Learn More.

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