Poll dancing: Alexander sitting pretty

National polling firm has incumbent with dominant lead, but trouble looms on the horizon for the state GOP

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

According to the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Tennessee, incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander has no need right now to start comparing prices between U-Haul and Ryder trucks. He has a dominant lead over his Democratic challengers.

However, the poll shows major problems on the horizon for Tennessee Republicans.

Voters surveyed by Rasmussen Reports found Alexander leading former Tennessee Democratic party Chairman Bob Tuke 59 percent to 30 percent and former Knox County Clerk Mike Padgett 58 percent to 31 percent.

But interestingly, among voters between the ages of 18 and 29, Alexander leads Tuke by just a single point and Padgett by eight points. In every other age category, Alexander has a cushion of about 20 points.

While the youth vote in Tennessee will not likely be the saving grace in this election for Tennessee Democrats seeking the U.S. Senate, the fact that Alexander is basically neck and neck in that category with opponents barely known at the statewide level suggests the state GOP has significant work to do in that growing voting bloc.

The youth demographic will probably not cost Lamar his job, but they can become the margin in closer down-ballot races for the State Senate and the State House.

Among independent voters, Alexander leads both Tuke and Padgett by at least 40 points and draws support from a quarter of Democratic voters.

Looking at the favorables/unfavorables, Alexander is viewed favorably by 67 percent and unfavorably by 27 percent. Tuke's numbers are 30 percent favorable, 41 percent unfavorable and 29 percent are not sure. Padgett's reviews are 30 percent favorable, 39 percent unfavorable and 32 percent are not sure.