Poll Shows Womack Most Popular Congressman

Talk Business released the first part of our latest poll Sunday night focusing on the job approval ratings of Arkansans four Congressman.  We will roll out different parts of the poll this week.

Of note, while voters nationally tend to have an unfavorable view of Congress, all four from the Arkansas delegation continue to have positive ratings.  Republican Cong. Steve Womack from the safest Republican district in northwest Arkansas also had the highest approval rating at +15 (44/29).  Although Democrat Ken Aden has announced he plans to challenge Womack, it appears Womack is likely to coast to re-election next year.

The sole Democratic member Cong. Mike Ross is close behind Womack at +14 (43/29).  It will be interesting to see how Ross’ approval numbers compare to that of President Obama when we release those numbers on Tuesday.  With Ross not running for re-election in 2012, it remains to be seen if his popularity in his district could help the Democratic nominee in a year which may otherwise be difficult for Democrats.  So far, state Sen. Gene Jeffress and Elvis Presley are the only Democratic candidates to announce plans to run for the seat although several others are rumored to be considering as well. Republicans Beth Anne Rankin and Tom Cotton have both announced for the seat as well.

In central Arkansas, Cong. Tim Griffin also looks to be well-positioned. With an approval rating of +4.5 (40/35.5), he is also the most well-known Arkansas Congressman with only 24.5% saying they did not know him.  This means Griffin is better known than Ross who has been a Congressman for more than a decade.  In addition, Griffin has reported raising over a half-million dollars for his re-election bid and so far has not drawn an opponent.

The Congressman with perhaps the most work to do is east Arkansas Cong. Rick Crawford who – although he enjoys positive approval rating of +12 (35/23) – he is unknown by 42% of his district.  With an large district now spreading out from the Missouri border all the way down the Mississippi River to the Louisiana border, Crawford has a lot of territory to cover in building up his name ID.  Two Democrats – state Rep. Clark Hall and businessman Steve Rockwell – are both considering challenging Crawford.  Based on the new Congressional lines, this district is considered by most observers to be the most competitive.  Crawford needs to spend time traveling his district and building up his name id to match his high approval rating before his opponents – and perhaps more significantly the DCCC – have a chance to define him.

Make sure and check back tomorrow to see how Republicans Rick Perry and Mitt Romney stack up against President Obama in Arkansas.