FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 23, 2009 INTERVIEWS: DEAN DEBNAM 888-621-6988 / 919-880-4888 (serious media inquiries only please, other questions can be directed to Tom Jensen) QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POLL: TOM JENSEN 919-744-6312 GOP leads in Kentucky Senate Race Raleigh, N.C. – Both Republican candidates lead both Democratic candidates for the US Senate in Kentucky, according to new numbers from Public Policy Polling. Trey Grayson does slightly better than Rand Paul against their Democratic opponents while Jack Conway does slightly better than Dan Mongiardo against the Republicans, but the results are all pretty similar. Grayson leads Conway 40-33 and Mongiardo 44-35. Paul leads Conway and Mongiardo by identical 42-36 margins. Kentucky independents are overwhelmingly leaning toward the GOP, giving Grayson and Paul leads ranging from 25 to 34 points over the Democratic contenders. Republicans are also more unified, with their candidates taking anywhere from 69-75% of their party’s votes in contrast to the Democrats who snag just 54-61% support from within their party. A major factor in the early Republican leads has to be the unpopularity of Barack Obama and national Democrats in Kentucky. The President has just a 35% approval rating in the state, and only 28% of voters support his health care plan. Even among Democrats support is under 50%. Just 26% of voters have a favorable opinion of Congressional Democrats. “It’s a good time to be a Republican right now and that’s reflected in the party’s early lead for the Kentucky Senate race,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “At the same time you have to remember early polling showed Mitch McConnell with a 15 point lead over Bruce Lunsford and he ended up winning by just six points. Things could change a lot between now and November.” PPP surveyed 1,199 Kentucky voters from December 18th to 21st. The margin of error is +/-2.8%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify. Complete results are attached and can be found at www.publicpolicypolling.com. If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888. ### Public Policy Polling Phone: 888 621-6988 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Web: www.publicpolicypolling.com Raleigh, NC 27604 Email: [email protected] Kentucky Survey Results Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of President Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Barack Obama’s job performance? If you of Jack Conway? If favorable, press 1. If approve, press 1. If you disapprove, press 2. unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press If you’re not sure, press 3. 3. Approve .......................................................... 35% Favorable........................................................ 19% Disapprove...................................................... 59% Unfavorable .................................................... 18% Not Sure.......................................................... 6% Not Sure.......................................................... 63% Q2 Do you support or oppose President Obama’s Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion health care plan, or do you not have an of Trey Grayson? If favorable, press 1. If opinion? If you support it, press 1. If you unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press oppose it, press 2. If you don’t have an opinion, 3. press 3. Favorable........................................................ 19% Support ........................................................... 28% Unfavorable .................................................... 17% Oppose ........................................................... 62% Not Sure.......................................................... 64% No Opinion...................................................... 10% Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor of Dan Mongiardo? If favorable, press 1. If Steve Beshear’s job performance? If you unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press approve, press 1. If you disapprove, press 2. 3. If you’re not sure, press 3. Favorable................ 25% Not Sure.................. 38% Approve .......................................................... 36% Unfavorable ............ 37% Disapprove...................................................... 39% Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Not Sure.......................................................... 25% of Rand Paul? If favorable, press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Mitch 3. McConnell’s job performance? If you approve, press 1. If you disapprove, press 2. If you’re Favorable........................................................ 26% not sure, press 3. Unfavorable .................................................... 23% Approve .......................................................... 48% Not Sure.......................................................... 51% Disapprove...................................................... 41% Q10 If the candidates for US Senate next year were Not Sure.......................................................... 11% Democrat Jack Conway and Republican Trey Grayson, who would you vote for? If Jack Q5 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Jim Conway, press 1. If Trey Grayson, press 2. If Bunning’s job performance? If you approve, you’re undecided, press 3. press 1. If you disapprove, press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3. Conway........................................................... 33% Approve .......................................................... 29% Grayson .......................................................... 40% Disapprove...................................................... 44% Undecided....................................................... 27% Not Sure.......................................................... 27% December 18-21, 2009 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Survey of 1,199 Kentucky voters Raleigh, NC 27604 [email protected] / 888 621-6988 Q11 If the candidates for US Senate next year were Q16 Do you think that Congressional Democrats Democrat Jack Conway and Republican Rand are too liberal, too conservative, or about right? Paul, who would you vote for? If Jack Conway, If too liberal, press 1. If too conservative, press press 1. If Rand Paul, press 2. If you’re 2. If about right, press 3. undecided, press 3. Too Liberal...................................................... 56% Conway........................................................... 36% Too Conservative............................................ 12% Paul ................................................................ 42% About Right..................................................... 32% Undecided....................................................... 22% Q17 Do you think that Congressional Republicans Q12 If the candidates for US Senate next year were are too liberal, too conservative, or about right? Democrat Dan Mongiardo and Republican Trey If too liberal, press 1. If too conservative, press Grayson, who would you vote for? If Dan 2. If about right, press 3. Mongiardo, press 1. If Trey Grayson, press 2. Too Liberal...................................................... 23% If you’re undecided, press 3. Too Conservative............................................ 37% Mongiardo....................................................... 35% About Right..................................................... 40% Grayson .......................................................... 44% Undecided....................................................... Q18 Who did you vote for President last year? If 21% John McCain, press 1. If Barack Obama, press Q13 If the candidates for US Senate next year were 2. If someone else or you don’t remember, Democrat Dan Mongiardo and Republican press 3. Rand Paul, who would you vote for? If Dan McCain............................................................ 54% Mongiardo, press 1. If Rand Paul, press 2. If you’re undecided, press 3. Obama............................................................ 38% Mongiardo....................................................... 36% Someone Else/Don't Remember..................... 8% Paul ................................................................ 42% Q19 Would you describe yourself as a liberal, Undecided....................................................... moderate, or conservative? If liberal, press 1. If 22% moderate, press 2. If conservative, press 3. Q14 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Liberal............................................................. 13% of the Democrats in Congress? If favorable, press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not Moderate......................................................... 43% sure, press 3. Conservative................................................... 45% Favorable........................................................ 26% Q20 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2. Unfavorable .................................................... 63% Woman ........................................................... 52% Not Sure.......................................................... 11% Man................................................................. 48% Q15 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Q21 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If you are a of the Republicans in Congress? If favorable, Republican, press 2. If you