Arizona Daily Star: AZ Sen. Kyl (R) 55%, Pederson (D) 26%

[Adlai Stevenson]

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

A new poll of Arizona voters gives Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl a commanding lead over Democratic challenger Jim Pederson.

The poll shows Kyl handily beating Pederson in all parts of the state, even in the reliably Democratic stronghold of Pima County.

Conducted by the nonpartisan Behavior Research Center of Phoenix, the poll shows Kyl beating Pederson 55-26 percent statewide, with 19 percent undecided.

In Pima County, it says Kyl would beat Pederson today 44-29 percent, with 27 percent undecided.

And in the rural parts of Arizona, Kyl wins 54-24 percent, with 22 percent undecided.

"Kyl is going to win," said Judi White, chairwoman of the county Republican Party. "This shows he's very popular and that he's a senator for Republicans and Democrats alike."

But Paul Eckerstom, chairman of the county Democratic Party, dismissed the value of a survey this early in the campaign.

"I'm not worried yet," he said. "Jim Pederson is not well known. He will be. This is about name ID. Wait until the TV ads start running. Then the numbers will tighten up."

Pollster Earl de Berge noted that Kyl is stronger now than in October, as the percentage of voters who say he is doing a "good" or "excellent" job climbed from 40 to 42 percent.

Kyl, a staunch ally of President Bush, is seeking a third term. Pederson, a Phoenix developer, is a former chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party making his first bid for elective office.

The same poll also showed Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano with a 28-point lead over Don Goldwater and a 34-point lead over John Greene, Republicans who hope to unseat her in November.

Elected in 2002, Napolitano now enjoys a "good" or "excellent" job rating from 57 percent of voters, the poll found.

The poll was conducted over an eight-day period beginning Jan. 5. The results are based on telephone interviews with 549 voters, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percent.

http://www.fox11az.com/news/state/stories/012206ccdrKMSBkyl.2d399682.html

[nini2287]

But Paul Eckerstom, chairman of the county Democratic Party, dismissed the value of a survey this early in the campaign.

"I'm not worried yet," he said. "Jim Pederson is not well known. He will be. This is about name ID. Wait until the TV ads start running. Then the numbers will tighten up."

That's true, but Kyl is still going to win significantly.

[Flying Dog]

Pederson probably wont break 35%

[7,052,770]

Pederson will win comfortably come election day.

[WalterMitty]

kyl is one of the smarter republican members of the senate.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Pederson will win comfortably come election day.

Harry, you really need to get help with such bizarre delusions.

[Sam Spade]

Where are the percentages of the candidates in the governor's race vs. Napolitano and Napolitano's numbers herself?

Please inform me if these were included in the article or somewhere else, thanks.

[CARLHAYDEN]

kyl is one of the smarter republican members of the senate.

Not only is he very intelligent, but he is widely respected in my state even by those who disagree with his political positions because he is recognized for his courtsey and honesty.

[The Duke]

Kyl isn't super vulnerable, but he's vulnerable enough that the Democrats should have been able to come up with something better than this lead weight of a candidate.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Kyl isn't super vulnerable, but he's vulnerable enough that the Democrats should have been able to come up with something better than this lead weight of a candidate.

This is a suicide run.

Six years ago the Democrats didn't even bother to run against Kyl.

Pederson has too much time and money on his hands.

[7,052,770]

Kyl isn't super vulnerable, but he's vulnerable enough that the Democrats should have been able to come up with something better than this lead weight of a candidate.

He may look like a lead weight now, but he'll be smiling on Election Night, as will I, while Carlhayden and John Kyl and George W. Bush cry.

[Joe Republic]

Pederson will win comfortably come election day.

Harry, you really need to get help with such bizarre delusions.

I think he was joking.

[WalterMitty]

i dont want to look it up, but are kyl and santorum the only two gop senators left from the class of 94?

[CARLHAYDEN]

Kyl isn't super vulnerable, but he's vulnerable enough that the Democrats should have been able to come up with something better than this lead weight of a candidate.

He may look like a lead weight now, but he'll be smiling on Election Night, as will I, while Carlhayden and John Kyl and George W. Bush cry.

Err, its 'Jon.'

Oh, and BTW, I guess I'll have something to remind you about in November.

[Joe Republic]

i dont want to look it up, but are kyl and santorum the only two gop senators left from the class of 94?

Nope.  Olympia Snowe, Mike DeWine, Jim Inhofe, Bill Frist and Craig Thomas still remain.

[Moooooo]

Kyl isn't super vulnerable, but he's vulnerable enough that the Democrats should have been able to come up with something better than this lead weight of a candidate.

This is a suicide run.

Six years ago the Democrats didn't even bother to run against Kyl.

Pederson has too much time and money on his hands.

He only won by 5 or 6% in '94, right?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

How pathetic, since Kyl is an extremist. Perhaps extremist candidates just tend to do better than moderates. Look at Coburn beating Carson, and look at San Diego county voting for Boxer and Bush.

[Alcon]

Kyl is doing much better than his so-so approval ratings would suggest.  That says a lot for Pederson as a candidate.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Kyl is doing much better than his so-so approval ratings would suggest.  That says a lot for Pederson as a candidate.

So did Boxer and Bush. Time to stop running these popular moderates who get their asses kicked.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Kyl isn't super vulnerable, but he's vulnerable enough that the Democrats should have been able to come up with something better than this lead weight of a candidate.

This is a suicide run.

Six years ago the Democrats didn't even bother to run against Kyl.

Pederson has too much time and money on his hands.

He only won by 5 or 6% in '94, right?

Wrong!

In his first run for the Senate, Jon led Coppersmith (the Democrat nominee) by 14 points!

[Adlai Stevenson]

Jon Kyl's SUSA rating of 44%-39% approval makes me more cheerful.  Why is Pederson considered such a bad candidate?  His self-fundraising is an advantage; even Kyl admitted that about his opponent.  He has been involved in the state Democratic party.  It's not like they chose some activist or something?  I doubt the Republicans will find a candidate equivalent to Kyl to lose against Napolitano.  I predict here that her margin of victory will be wider than Kyl's.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Jon Kyl's SUSA rating of 44%-39% approval makes me more cheerful.  Why is Pederson considered such a bad candidate?  His self-fundraising is an advantage; even Kyl admitted that about his opponent.  He has been involved in the state Democratic party.  It's not like they chose some activist or something?  I doubt the Republicans will find a candidate equivalent to Kyl to lose against Napolitano.  I predict here that her margin of victory will be wider than Kyl's.

Well, lets take your post point by point.

First, SUSA rating is nonsense.  Reputable polls differ strongly, such as the one cited in this thread.

Second, being a wealthy former chairman of the state Democrat party really doesn't count for much.  Another wealthy former state Democrat party chair in Arizona ran for congress, and was badly beaten in the primary by Grijalva.

[Rococo4]

This race is already over.  Kyl will cruise to reelection.  The only person who would say otherwise is "MyPalFish" who would say Pederson was going to win and then come back Election Day 2006 and "accept his accolades."