April 15, 2006--Democrat Mike Beebe leads Asa Hutchinson (R) by 11 points in the race to succeed Mike Huckabee as Governor of Arkansas.
Beebe currently earns support for 47% of the state's Likely Voters while Hutchinson attracts 36% support. A month ago, Beebe led by ten points. In January, he held a six-point lead.
While support for Attorney General Beebe has remained stable in all three election polls we've conducted in the state, Hutchinson's support has fallen by 2 percentage points a month.
Arkansas voters are fortunate to have two fairly popular candidates for Governor (in contrast to voters in, say, Illinois). Beebe is viewed favorably by 65%, Hutchinson by 59%. For both men, that's a slight improvement over the past month.
Senator Hillary Clinton, formerly the First Lady of Arkansas, is is viewed favorably by 51% of Arkansas voters. Nationally, Clinton remains a polarizing figure with roughly equal numbers holding a favorable or unfavorable opinion.
Term limited Governor Mike Huckabee (R) enjoys a 60% Job Approval Rating in the state.
Fifty-four percent (54%) of Arkansas voters believe it is too easy for a woman to get an abortion. Eighteen percent (18%) believe it is too hard. Sixty-nine percent (69%) believe abortion is morally wrong most of the time and half (50%) favor a law that would ban abortion except when the life of the mother is at stake.
Seventy-two percent (72%) of Arkansas voters believe that most politicians will change their position on a key issue in exchange for a campaign contribution. Fifty-five percent (55%) believe elections are fair to voters while 23% favor public funding of campaigns.
The rolling average of the last three Rasmussen Reports election polls in Arkansas shows Beebe ahead 47% to 38%.
mmm... Arkansas, I love that place
