Latest numbers show McCain up ten, more trusted on economy

While numbers in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race fluctuate sharply, the polling picture for the Presidential race in the Bluegrass Race remains a bit more consistent. The newest poll from Rasmussen Reports shows U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) holding a ten point lead over U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

Rasmussen’s survey of 500 likely voters – conducted on Sept. 30 – finds McCain up 52 to 42 percent. 2 percent of respondents selected another candidate and 4 percent were undecided.

The firm’s last poll in Kentucky – from July - also gave the Senator from Arizona a ten point lead, though that one fell at 49 to 39 percent.

The latest data indicates 63 percent of respondents rate McCain as either “Very” or “somewhat” favorable compared to 49 percent saying the same of Obama. Few are undecided about the candidates as the inverse – those who rated the candidates “very” or “somewhat” unfavorable – found 51 percent of respondents held that opinion of Obama and just 35 percent of McCain.

Rasmussen reports Obama leads among “unaffiliated” voters in the state, 49 to 40 percent. McCain, however, is taking a sizeable chunk of Democrats from the Senator of Illinois, pulling 28 percent of respondents aligned with Obama’s own party.

While the economic situation in the United States remains in turmoil, voters in national-level polls appear to be favoring Obama as the candidate to best handle the situation. The Bluegrass state respondents in Rasmussen’s poll differ, however, favoring McCain on the issue, 49 to 42 percent.

Fifty-eight percent of respondents indicated they thought “creating economic growth” was “more important” than “reducing the income gap between rich and poor.”

Among those polled, 65 percent saw “creating economic growth” as more important to McCain that “reducing the income gap.” Just 24 percent said the same of Obama, while 58 percent held “reducing the income gap” was more important to the Democrat.

McCain is favored on national security issues by an even larger margin, 57 to 35 percent.

Palin and Biden approvals

Rasmussen also collected favorability ratings for the other halves of the ticket. McCain’s running mate -Alaska Governor Sarah Palin – garnered favorable assessments from 56 percent of voters and unfavorable ratings from 42 percent. Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden, of Delaware, rated favorable among 46 percent of Kentucky respondents and unfavorable among 50 percent.