A new survey of Arkansas by Public Policy Polling (D) reaffirms that Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln is in serious danger this year. Furthermore, it also says that Democrats would have a tough time even if they replaced her with a new candidate.
Republican Rep. John Boozman, who is poised to officially enter the race soon, leads Lincoln by 56%-33%. A Republican candidate already in the race, state Senate Minority Leader Gilbert Baker, is ahead of Lincoln by 50%-35%.
Other Democrats were tested in place of Blanche Lincoln, and would still have a tough race. Boozman edges out Gov. Mike Beebe by 44%-43%, leads retired Gen. Wesley Clark by 51%-36%, and leads Rep. Mike Ross by 48%-37%. Baker ties Ross at 39%-39%, trails Beebe by 46%-38%, and leads Clark by 45%-39%.
Democratic Lt. Gov. Bill Halter — who has been urged by some liberals to run against Lincoln in the primary, trails Boozman by 53%-30%, and trails Baker by 45%-34%.
PPP communications director Tom Jensen writes: “A look inside the health care issue gives a good indication of how Lincoln has managed now to get it from all sides. 61% of voters in the state oppose the President’s plan, and among those folks Lincoln’s approval rating is just 8% with 79% of them expressing the belief that she’s too liberal. But she’s managed to antagonize a lot of the people who support the Democratic health care plan as well- 36% of them think she’s too conservative and her approval with them is just 57%. Barack Obama’s at 95% with that same group of voters.”
Late Update: The new Rasmussen poll has Lincoln trailing Boozman by 54%-35%, and behind Baker by 52%-33%. In addition, state Sen. Kim Hendren leads Lincoln by 51%-35%, businessman Curtis Coleman is ahead of her by 50%-34%, and businessman Tom Cox is ahead by 50%-36%. This poll did not test other hypothetical Democratic candidates.
