LITTLE ROCK — A poll released Wednesday by the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville shows U.S. Rep. John Boozman with a big lead in the U.S. Senate race.
Boozman, a Republican, is challenging U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, a Democrat.
Among Arkansans in general, Boozman led Lincoln in the poll, 48 percent to 36 percent with 16 percent not showing a preference or not answering.
Among respondents describing themselves as “very likely voters,” Boozman leads 54 percent to 35 percent for Lincoln and 11 percent not showing a preference or not answering.
Lincoln posted her lowest approval rating since taking office in the Senate.
Of the respondents, 30 percent said they approve ofthe way Lincoln is handling her job. That’s down from 43 percent in 2009 and from a high of 55 percent in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
She posted a 53 percent disapproval rating, up from 34 percent a year ago.
The annual “Arkansas Poll” is directed by Janine Parry, a political science professor at the UA.
The poll was conducted by telephone from Oct. 8 to Oct. 20. There were 771 completed surveys from a random sample of adult Arkansans.
Most political polls call registered voters, but Parry has said that her poll isn’t a political poll and is more aimed at portraying the viewpoints of all Arkansans.
The poll’s results on the Senate are similar to other polls that have been done in recent months showing Boozman of Rogers with a doubledigit lead over Lincoln of Little Rock.
Lincoln was elected in 1998 and re-elected in 2004. Boozman was elected to Congress in the 3rd District of Northwest Arkansas in 2001.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 8 on 10/28/2010