General election match-up poll shows McConnell beating Fischer, Lunsford

A new general election match-up poll commissioned by the Lexington Herald-Leader shows both Democratic primary frontrunner Bruce Lunsford and his nearest primary opponent in that race, Louisville businessman Greg Fischer (D-Louisville), falling in November to incumbent Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville).

In both the two hypothetical general elections, McConnell polls double-digit leads over either Democratic candidate. Against Lunsford, McConnell garners 48 percent support among the 600 "likely voters" polled to 36 percent for the Democrat. In that contest, 16 percent of respondents were undecided.

Against Fischer, the results are similar. McConnell grabs 47 percent to Fischer's 35 percent, with 18 percent undecided.

The results do not provide much ammunition to either Democrat's claims that they are the best candidate to take on McConnell in November - a line both campaigns have pushed during their relatively contentious primary.

Approval ratings for the four-term incumbent Republican could give some hope to Democrats hoping to unseat McConnell. A stark divide is evident among the statewide respondents when it comes to perception of McConnell's performance in the United States Senate.

48 percent of respondents "strongly approve" or "approve" of McConnell's work in the U.S. Senate, while 44 percent "disapprove" or "strongly disapprove." The forty-four percent figure is noticeably higher than the support either Democrat received in their respective match-up poll with McConnell. 8 percent of respondents were unsure of their position on McConnell.

The margin of error on the Herald-Leader's general election poll is plus or minus 4 percent. 600 "likely" voters were surveyed from May 7 to May 9.

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