In Kentucky, the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey shows John McCain leading Barack Obama by twenty-five percentage points, 57% to 32%. The candidates remain evenly matched nationally in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

McCain attracts 83% of the Republican vote but also attracts 37% of Kentucky Democrats and leads by a two-to-one margin among unaffiliated voters. Obama earns just 48% of the vote from Democrats. This result is similar to the exit poll finding which showed that just 50% of Kentucky’s Democratic Presidential Primary voters would support Obama over McCain.

Fifty-four percent (54%) of Kentucky voters say that the economy is the most important voting issue of Election 2008. Twelve percent (12%) say the War in Iraq is the top issue while 11% name National Security. McCain leads by twelve points among voters who see the economy as most important while Obama leads by nineteen among those most focused on the War in Iraq. However, among those who say National Security is the highest priority, McCain is supported by 94% and Obama by 2%.

McCain is viewed favorably by 59% of Kentucky voters and unfavorably by 39%. Those figures include 19% with a Very Favorable opinion and 15% with a Very Unfavorable view.

For Obama, the numbers are 37% favorable and 61% unfavorable. Those figures include 18% with a Very Favorable opinion of the likely Democratic nominee and 40% with a Very Unfavorable opinion.

Rasmussen Markets data gives McCain a % chance of winning Kentucky’s eight Electoral College Votes this fall. These numbers are updated on a 24/7 basis by market participants. George W. Bush won the state by twenty percentage points in Election 2004 and fifteen points four years earlier. At the time this poll was released, Kentucky was ranked “Safely Republican” in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator.

Fifty percent (50%) of Kentucky voters say it’s more important to get troops home from Iraq than to win the War. Forty-one percent (41%) hold the opposite view. Those figures are close to the national average.

If McCain is elected President, 48% of Kentucky voters say it’s likely the U.S. will win the war. Just 20% say victory is likely if Obama is elected. However, 52% say the troops are likely to come home within four years if Obama becomes our next President. Forty-four percent (44%) say that outcome is likely with a President McCain.

Four years ago, George W. Bush won 60% of the vote in Kentucky. Today, just 32% of the state’s voters believe that he is doing a good or an excellent job as President. Forty-eight percent (48%) say he is doing a poor job.

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