Kansas Republican incumbents have spent the past month fending off challengers, but a new poll shows the state’s conservative voters ultimately getting behind their candidate and giving Senator Pat Roberts and Governor Sam Brownback a slight lead.
Roberts, who has regained ground against independent opponent Greg Orman, currently leads 48 percent to 46 percent in the unexpectedly competitive race, according to a Remington Research Group survey. The race continues to be a toss-up as polls fluctuate within a narrow range, resulting in multiple lead changes.
The poll finds that 56 percent of Kansans want Republicans to win control of the Senate, which benefits Roberts over Orman, who has remained mum about which party he would caucus with if elected. Senate majority leader Harry Reid is also extremely unpopular in the state: only 16 percent of residents have a favorable opinion of him.
But voters are split on whether Orman is the de facto Democrat in the race. Forty-eight percent believe his views reflect an “independent” candidate while the same amount of respondents say they believe his views are aligned with the Democratic party.
Meanwhile, in the gubernatorial race, Brownback leads Democrat Paul Davis 48 percent to 45 percent. This race has also gone back and forth between both candidates. Although his approval rating is underwater, more voters have a more favorable opinion of Brownback than they do of Davis, presumably due in part to his name recognition.