Rasmussen: GOP contenders lead Democrats in U.S. Senate race

Republican candidates have taken a clear lead in the latest Rasmussen Reports poll measuring potential General Election match ups in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race.

The telephone survey of 500 likely voters was conducted on Jan. 6 and has a margin of error of 4.5 percentage points.

Here’s how Rasmussen breaks down the results:

Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson and Rand Paul, an opthamologist and the son of Congressman Ron Paul, remain ahead of Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo. Now, however, the GOP hopefuls also are beating state Attorney General Jack Conway.

While Paul is likely to get an extra boost from enthusiastic supporters of his father’s presidential bid in 2008, both Republicans are benefiting from unhappiness in Kentucky with the national health care plan now working its way through Congress.

Just 34% of Kentucky voters favor the health care plan, while 62% oppose it. These numbers include 16% who Strongly Favor it versus 50% who Strongly Oppose. This is much stronger opposition to the plan than is found nationally.

In September, Conway ran even with Grayson and beat Paul by four points.

Here are the results:

Trey Grayson (R): 44%
Daniel Mongiardo (D): 37%
Some Other Candidate: 8%
Not Sure: 11%

Rand Paul (R): 49%
Daniel Mongiardo (D): 35%
Some Other Candidate: 3%
Not Sure: 13%

Trey Grayson (R): 45%
Jack Conway (D): 35%
Some Other Candidate: 7%
Not Sure: 12%

Rand Paul (R): 46%
Jack Conway (D): 38%
Some Other Candidate: 4%
Not Sure: 12%

- John Stamper

Filed Under: Daniel Mongiardo • Elections • Jack Conway • Polling • Rand Paul • Trey Grayson • US Senate Race