Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has an even longer way to go now if he wants to win a second term next year.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Massachusetts voters shows the Democratic incumbent trailing potential Republican challenger Christy Mihos 40% to 35%. Eleven percent (11%) like some other candidate, and 15% are not sure.

In June, Mihos had a statistically insignificant 41% to 40% lead over Patrick, so the bad news for the governor is that he is losing support.

Patrick has a one-point lead over another possible GOP competitor, health care executive Charlie Baker, 40% to 39%, with seven percent (7%) opting for some other candidate and 15% again undecided. In June, Patrick led Baker 41% to 36%.

Rasmussen Reports later today will release new numbers on what Massachusetts voters think of their state health care reform plan which has been cited as a model for a national health care plan.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

In a match-up with Mihos, Patrick picks up 56% of the Democratic vote. Against Baker, the governor earns 66% support from his own party. Both Republicans have the backing of more than 75% of GOP voters.

Voters not affiliated with either party favor either of the Republicans by 30 points over Patrick.

The fact that the numbers are similar regardless of which Republican is mentioned suggests that the race for now is a referendum on the incumbent rather than a choice between competing alternatives.

Mihos, a businessman, ran an independent campaign in 2006 and picked up seven percent (7%) of the statewide vote. Patrick won the election with 56% of the vote while Republican Kerry Healey was the choice for 35% of voters.

Massachusetts leans Democratic in state races and still regards President Obama much more highly than many other parts of the country. If Obama’s numbers hold or improve by next November, Patrick’s chances should be helped accordingly.

Right now, Patrick comes in last on a list of four when Massachusetts voters are asked which of the state’s politicians they most respect. Fifty percent (50%) say longtime Democratic Senator Edward M. “Ted” Kennedy, while 35% prefer former Republican Governor Mitt Romney. John Kerry, the state’s other U.S. senator and the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, is respected most by just five percent (5%), with Patrick at three percent (3%).

This high regard for Kennedy helps explain why 52% of the state’s voters agree with the terminally ill senator that the governor should name an interim senator to take his place until a special election can be held.

Just 39% approve of Patrick’s performance as governor, with seven percent (7%) who strongly approve. Sixty percent (60%) disapprove of the job he is doing, including 34% who strongly disapprove. This is a slight worsening of the numbers for Patrick from June, but voters have been critical of his performance for months.

By comparison, 59% approve of the job Obama is doing while 41% disapprove. Those figures include 39% who Strongly Approve and 30% who strongly disapprove of the president’s job performance. These findings are much better that the national numbers in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

On a personal basis, Patrick is viewed Very Favorably by 11% of voters but 28% regard him very unfavorably.

For Mihos, those numbers are 6% very favorable and 11% very unfavorable.

Baker is seen favorably by 9% and very unfavorably by 14%.

At this very early stage of the campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the very favorable and very unfavorable figures more significant than the overall favorability totals.

In mid-April, just 33% of Massachusetts voters said they were at least somewhat likely to vote for Patrick if he sought reelection in 2010.

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free) or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available to Premium Members only.