Poll shows trouble for Lincoln, wide approval for Beebe

The newest Talk Business Quarterly poll combined with Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown’s upset victory over Democrat Martha Coakley on Tuesday (Jan. 19) does not bode well for U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.

Brown’s win, according to analysis from Roby Brock, alters the national political landscape in the health care debate and could have profound repercussions for the Democratic majority in Congress, including Arkansas’ closely-watched U.S. Senate race. (Brock is a content partner with The City Wire.)

“Brown’s win handed the GOP a 41st seat in the U.S. Senate, a milestone that whittles away a filibuster-proof majority for Democrats,” Brock advised in this report.

Following are TBQ polling results about Lincoln and Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe.

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Blanche Lincoln?
15%  Strongly Favorable
19%  Somewhat Favorable (Favorable = 34%)
11%  Somewhat Unfavorable
46%  Strongly Unfavorable (Unfavorable = 57%)
9%    No Opinion

Thinking about the job that Blanche Lincoln is doing as U.S. Senator, would you say you approve or disapprove?
15%  Strongly Approve
23%  Somewhat Approve (Approve = 38%)
7%   Slightly Disapprove
49%  Strongly Disapprove (Disapprove = 56%)
6%   No Opinion



In the last TBQ Poll conducted in October 2009, 42% of likely voters had a favorable impression of Lincoln, while 46% had an unfavorable view.  Lincoln’s job approval rating was split evenly at 45-45% in October.

Lincoln still enjoys majority support among Democrats with 61% popularity. But 76% of Republicans disapprove of her job performance by larger margins. Strikingly, all-important independent voters have a similar attitude as Republicans, with 69% disapproving of Lincoln’s job performance.

BEEBE
Gov. Mike Beebe, who has announced he will seek re-election for a second term, remains wildly popular. Beebe, a Democrat, has a favorable rating among Arkansas voters of 76%, with only 14% viewing him unfavorably. His job approval rating improved from our last poll by three percentage points.

Today, 82% of Arkansans think Beebe is doing a good job as Governor. Only 9% disapprove of his job performance with another 9% are undecided.