Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell holds a slight lead over Democratic challenger Amy McGrath, 49 to 44%, with 5% of voters undecided, according to a new poll published by Quinnipiac University.
"Can a former Marine fighter pilot with 89 combat missions win a dogfight with a seasoned political powerhouse who has gone to war D.C. style for decades? She's giving him a run for his money," Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy said.
According to the poll, Republicans go for McConnell 92 to 6%, while Democrats go for McGrath 86 to 11%.
Independents are divided with 46% backing McGrath and 40% backing McConnell.
Of voters who name a candidate, 89% say their mind is made up, while 11 percent say they might change their minds.
Voters give McConnell a slightly negative 43 to 48% favorability rating, and they give Amy McGrath a negative 32 to 42% favorability rating.
Twenty-five percent say they haven't heard enough about McGrath to have an opinion.
As the incumbent Republican, 41% of voters say McConnell has the right attitude towards President Trump, 37% say he is too supportive of the president, and 13% say he isn't supportive enough of him.
Kentucky job approval ratings
Job approval ratings for the two U.S. Senators from Kentucky:
- Voters are split on the way McConnell is handling his job, with 46% approving and 48% disapproving;
- Voters slightly approve of the way Rand Paul is handling his job, 43 to 38%, with 19% undecided.
For Gov. Andy Beshear:
- Voters approve 63 to 34% for the governor is handling his job.
- Voters also approve 66 to 30% for Beshear’s pandemic response.
For President Donald Trump:
- Voters are split on the way President Trump is handling his job, with 49% approving and 47% disapproving.
- Voters are divided on his handling of the coronavirus, with 50% approving and 47% disapproving.
2020 presidential election
With three months to go before the November election, Trump leads former Vice President Joe Biden in Kentucky 50 to 41%. Ninety-one percent of voters who name a candidate say their minds are made up, while 7% say they may change their minds.
Who voters think would do a better job:
- Handling the economy: Trump 60%, Biden 35%;
- Handling a crisis: Trump 51%, Biden 42%;
- Handling health care: Trump 50%, Biden 44%;
- Handling the response to the coronavirus: Trump 48%, Biden 44%;
- Addressing racial inequality: Biden 47%, Trump 44%.
The survey was conducted from July 30 to Aug. 3 in Kentucky. Responses are reported for 909 self-identified registered voters.
