New Poll Shows McConnell Popular In Ky. As Reelection Bid Looms

Despite Democratic pledges to run a serious opponent against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican holds wide leads over all potential Democratic challengers and sports an approval rating of higher than 60 percent, according to a new poll released by his campaign.

According to the poll, conducted by Voter/Consumer Research Jan. 6-8, McConnell would best possible Democratic candidates by at least 15 points, including 2007 gubernatorial primary also-ran Bruce Lunsford; Charlie Owen, the 2003 Democratic lieutenant governor nominee; wealthy businessman Greg Fischer; and Iraq veteran and 2006 House candidate Andrew Horne.

The survey of 600 likely voters found about 10 percent of the electorate to be undecided. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Almost two-thirds of the electorate were unaware or had no impression of Lunsford; significantly fewer voters knew of Fischer and Horne. Fischer was widely recognized, but most voters seemed to have no opinion of him. Attorney General Greg Stumbo, considered a serious challenger until he dropped out, scored only 10 points behind McConnell.