The new survey of Kentucky by Public Policy Polling (D) finds some really bad numbers for GOP Sen. Jim Bunning, who has accused his own party of trying to force him into a retirement, with Bunning trailing all potential Democratic opponents.
Bunning trails Lt. Governor Dan Mongiardo, the only declared big-name Democratic candidate in the race — and who nearly beat Bunning in a 51%-49% race in 2004 — by a 43%-36% margin. Dem Congressman Ben Chandler is ahead of Bunning 47%-33%; state Attorney General Jack Conway is up 42%-33%; and state Auditor Crit Luallen is up 42%-34%.
From the pollster’s analysis: “If there was ever any doubt Republicans would be better off with Jim Bunning retiring these numbers can put that to rest.”
As for the other possible GOP candidates: state Senate President David Williams trails Mongiardo 43%-32%; he trails Chandler 45%-30%; he’s behind Conway 43%-29%; and he trails Luallen 41%-31%. Secretary of State Trey Grayson does better, edging out Mongiardo 40%-36%, and is ahead of Luallen 36%-34% — but he trails Chandler 40%-34%, and is behind Conway 37%-33%.
Bunning’s approval is only 28%, with disapproval at 54%, and Williams is at 28%-41%, with Grayson as the only Republican in positive territory with 46%-19%. The Democrats are all in positive territory, though with pretty high undecideds in all cases.
