While only U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, the nation's top Republican, garners a net favorable rating in a new (11/1) Survey USA poll of Kentucky adults, Kentuckians' approval of President Barack Obama has surged since the August 31 poll.
Two months ago Kentucky gave Mr. Obama an abysmal 31% job approval rating. But, in the new poll, he improves a full 15 percentage points to a 46% approval rating.
| 46% | Approve |
| 51% | Disapprove |
| 3% | Not Sure |
Meanwhile, the state's top elected Democrat, Governor Steve Beshear, whose favorable/unfavorable numbers were even at 47% two months ago, has slipped to a 44% approval rating vs. 50% disapproval. www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx
| 44% | Approve |
| 50% | Disapprove |
| 6% | Not Sure |
Beshear, who plans on running for reelection in 2011, has support among women, people at least 50 years old, moderates, Louisville residents and people with incomes more than $50,000 per year.
Beshear's highest disapproval ratings are among students (70% disapprove), men (58% disapprove), blacks (54% disapprove) and Eastern Kentuckians (59% disapprove). 59% of both conservatives and liberals disapprove of Beshear's job performance.
The exclusive WHAS11/Survey USA poll released Sunday improves Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's favorability quotient by one percentage point since August 31, now at 48%.
| 48% | Approve |
| 45% | Disapprove |
| 7% | Not Sure |
While McConnell’s next re-election fight is still 5 years away, he is intensely involved in the effort to revive the GOP Congressional ranks.
In the August 31 poll, Kentucky’s retiring Senator Jim Bunning had only a 35% approval rating. Bunning is up to 39% in the latest poll, taking over the unfavorability title in Kentucky from President Obama.
| 39% | Approve |
| 49% | Disapprove |
| 12% | Not Sure |
