Posted on 03/19/2014 6:48:50 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has a nearly 40-point lead over his primary challenger, Matt Bevin, in a new Republican survey of the Kentucky Senate GOP primary.
The survey, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies for the pro-McConnell group Kentuckians for Strong Leadership, gives McConnell 61 percent support to Bevin’s 23 percent support.
That’s an increase in support from an early-February independent survey of the race, which showed McConnell ahead by only 26 points. But it’s actually a decrease from the last GOP survey of the race, conducted by Wenzel Strategies at the start of February, which gave him a 42-point lead.
It’s likely McConnell’s primary lead is somewhere between those two numbers — significant double-digits, still a favorable position just over two months out from Election Day.
The polling memo also notes McConnell maintains a 33-point lead over Bevin even among voters who say they’ve heard of the GOP challenger, an indication that, even if Bevin manages to increase his profile in the state, he’ll find it difficult to break ahead.
McConnell's persistently high unpopularity has given Democrats reason to believe he's one of the GOP's most vulnerable senators this cycle, but the new survey gives McConnell a surprisingly high approval rating among GOP primary voters, with 67 percent approving of his job performance, while just 25 percent view him unfavorably.
Bevin, in contrast, is seen favorably by just 21 percent of primary voters and unfavorably by 15 percent.
McConnell has sparked the ire of conservatives throughout his career but that frustration ran particularly high last month, when he was one of a handful of Republican senators to vote to raise the debt limit.
The fallout from the move was on display last week when McConnell received a lukewarm reception from activists at the Conservative Political Action Conference just outside of Washington, D.C.
But this survey, which was conducted Feb, 24-26, about 10 days after the vote, seems to indicate he still retains some good will with Republicans.
The survey was conducted among 400 likely Republican primary voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.
McConnell is favored in his primary, and expected to encounter Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes in the general election in Kentucky.
Some choice we will get here. Grimes the commie or McConnell the RINO accommodater. Sh1t.
Have there been any ads for Bevin?
A sad reality: many Republican voters are low information voters too.
let’s not sugar coat it, conservatives are just a minority.
It’s getting worse when so-called Republicans get a taste of “free stuff”, they become RINO. now Republicans itself is turning into RINO by definition.
This is just anecdotal, but I was at Wal-mart yesterday. I saw no bumper stickers FOR McConnell and at least three Ditch Mitch stickers.
If Mc Connell becomes Majority Leader, that means Crews will get appointed to the “Sanitation Committee” which will allow him plenty of time to campaign in Iowa.
You mean in other words “stupid” voters?
I’ll bet that is an M M M poll..
If Bevin doesn’t realize what he’s up against, then he’ll lose.
If McConnell gets back in, it may turn out that it is he who does not know what he’s up against. It is he and the other old-thinking, self centered, ignorant, corrupt, passive, Obama enabling republicans who are the problem. They are either out, or forget it.
Per Steyn and also John Hawkins this morning, a few conservatives in the congress here and there is just not going to cut it. If McConnell loses, what’s the difference if people don’t really replace him? If Bevin’s not up to beating him now, then he wouldn’t be up for moving ahead once he’s in, where the real fight is.
Cruz had to beat Bushy Dewhurst - I the primary. That’s the other republican.
The senate race against the Dem, whoever that was, was easy.
Then he had to get ahead of what’s going on in the senate. Talking sense to Feinstein was impressive, but the real fight is against those republicans who would call him wacko to the nation. what’s going on behind the scenes there?
No. If Bevin can’t get ahead now, forget it. These guys can NOT act the victim once they’re in the Senate. THat’s where it Starts.
That’s sad to hear. I hope to see alternative polling data to show there is a chance. Unfortunately, a lot of voters are not engaged and react to the millions dumped into the race. Money does matter a great deal in politics.
If only Washington Republicans fought as hard in their jobs as they do in primaries.
In this race, too, we need to remember how hard it is to remove a sitting leader. Reid came from political death rattle to reelection in 2010...not because the opposition was bad, but because they have literally unlimited resources at their disposal...money, political machines, etc.
I thought 70% of the base are conservative? I'm sure Kentucky republicans were told how conservative mc is because of his voting record, which is misleading. I'm sure mc had all the gop money he needed to keep his job. Maybe people are scared of change. With mc they won't get any change, just whatever o wants. Does Bevin have any dirty laundry or did they make up stuff?
I live in Kentucky. Sadly, Bevin is done.
‘Conservative’ means different things to different people.
Has Sarah Palin used her clout to help here?
When Cornball scored so easily in TX, it also meant McC is unstoppable in KY and Grahama in SC too. These are “wave” things. Voters are asleep at the switch nationwide.
KY people are just like their compatriots elswhere. They want a familiar name who can win.
The Government Party wins again.
Begins has 60 days to close the gap.
Correct, plus there is the reality of politics, and how perception becomes reality through a process that is fueled with Party money and influence.
I dislike McConnell as much as anyone, but anyone who thinks that the Senate Minority Leader is going to lose his primary to a newcomer with only 21% favorability is delusional.
Well it looks like Mitchie may get to be majority leader. Nothing the Tea Party initiates will ever get to the floor of the Senate for a vote. RINO’s will still rule.
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