Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has an uphill battle to re-election in his deep-red state of Kansas this November, with a new poll showing him trailing a Democratic challenger, Paul Davis, by six points.
The survey, conducted by
Survey USA for NBC station KSN in Wichita, showed the incumbent easily winning the party's nomination Aug. 5, crushing Republican Jennifer Winn 55 percent to 37 percent. The poll's primary results have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percent.
But the conservative Brownback is running at 41 percent against Davis' 47 percent support in a November matchup, the poll showed. The margin of error in the general election polling was plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
"This campaign will be a choice between Sam Brownback – a Reagan Republican and Paul Davis – an Obama Democrat," Brownback said in a statement
to KSN and other local media.
“We are confident that once Kansans learn of the record of Sam Brownback and the record of Paul Davis, Kansans will ensure Governor Brownback wins re-election in November.”
Davis, a 12-year veteran of the Kansas legislature, told
KSHB-TV the poll results matched what he’s experienced on the stump.
"There's a great deal of dissatisfaction with the governor and the direction that he's been leading the state," Davis said.
The poll showed Davis making an important dent in support among Republicans, with 26 percent of GOP voters in his corner.
"I'm getting a lot of support from Republicans and I think there's certainly room to grow on that front," Davis said. "But I think you're going to see a growing coalition of moderate Republicans, unaffiliated voters and Democrats that are gravitating toward our campaign."
In the state's other marquee race, Republican Sen. Pat Roberts is leading 56 to 23 percent over tea party challenger – and cousin of President Barack Obama – Milton Wolf in the GOP primary.
Roberts also leads Democratic Party challenger Chad Taylor 43 to 33 percent.
The
Kansas City Kansan reported the one single issue boosting Davis' chances is education. For voters who think that's the No. 1 issue, Davis is leading Brownback by 54 points.
Brownback has a large lead against Davis among voters who consider taxes the most important issue, the survey showed.
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