McConnell camp puts out internal numbers showing lead, slams Rasmussen

News of poll results from Rasmussen Reports showing Democratic Senate nominee Bruce Lunsford with a five point lead over Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) was met with the release of internal polling data from McConnell's campaign this morning, indicating an 11 point lead for the incumbent.

A McConnell-sponsored internal poll of 600 likely voters by the campaign's long-time pollster Jan van Lohuizen and his Texas-based Voter/Consumer Research firm shows McConnell up 50 to 39 percent over Lunsford - a dramatic difference from the 49 to 44 percent lead the Rasmussen poll showed for the Democratic nominee.

According to polling documents provided to PolitickerKY.com, respondents to the internal poll were asked "If the elections for Senate were held today, and the candidates were Mitch McConnell, the Republican, and Bruce Lunsford, the Democrat, who would you vote for?" The names of Lunsford and McConnell were rotated, according to the poll questionnaire.

McConnell's internal figures also indicate 55 percent of respondents had a "favorable" rating of the Senator while 32 percent had an "unfavorable" rating. Of Lunsford, 34 percent had a so-called "positive" impression and 20 percent a "negative" impression.

The numbers on McConnell's favorability mesh with the earlier Rasmussen poll, which gave McConnell a 52 percent "favorable" rating. However, Rasmussen's negatives for McConnell hit 42 percent - a full ten points higher than McConnell's internal numbers.

Lunsford conversely registered ratings of 47 percent "favorable" and 43 percent "unfavorable" according to Rasmussen.

Like the earlier Rasmussen poll, this internal poll was conducted immediately after last Tuesday's Democratic primary, from which Lunsford emerged as that party's nominee. Data was collected from May 21 to May 22.

Earlier today, a spokesman from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee circulated the Rasmussen poll results, touting Lunsford's lead.

A McConnell campaign statement released in conjunction with the internal poll numbers targeted the flaunting of Rasmussen's data as flawed.

"This is an indicator of what we can expect for the next five months. National Journal refuses to print Rasmussen polls, yet Democrat leaders will trumpet bogus polls like this one in a futile effort to create a false sense of momentum for the hand-picked candidate of New York Senator Chuck Schumer and the DSCC," said Justin Brasell, McConnell's campaign manager.

Rasmussen Reports utilizes automated polling technology and pre-recorded voices in its data collection.