Davis leading in governor’s race

After a number of polls showing the Kansas governor’s race tightening, a new poll out Friday from Rasmussen Reports shows Democrat Paul Davis has reclaimed an eight-point lead over Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

The poll shows Davis ahead, 51-43 percent, among likely voters who are solidly committed to one candidate or the other. The lead narrows slightly to seven points, 52-45, when voters who are leaning toward one candidate or the other are added to the mix.

On Thursday, Rasmussen released a survey showing independent Greg Orman leading by five points in the U.S. Senate race over Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, 49-44 percent. However, neither survey asked voters about the Libertarian candidates in those races, Keen Umbehr in the governor’s race or Randall Batson in the senate race.

Other recent polls that included the Libertarian candidates showed narrower gaps between the two major candidates.

In the governor’s race, Rasmussen showed Davis claiming about 35 percent of the Republican vote. Its Senate survey showed Orman claiming about the same number of Republicans, 31 percent, indicating that both candidates are suffering from defections within their own party.

And, like Roberts, Brownback suffers from high unfavorable ratings: 53 percent overall, including 39 percent of likely Republican voters. Fifty-eight percent of likely Republican voters view him favorably.

Davis, by contrast, is viewed favorably by 49 percent of all likely voters in the survey, but by only 34 percent of Republicans.

Jenkins internals show strong lead

An internal poll commissioned by 2nd District Republican congresswoman Lynn Jenkins shows her with a strong lead over her Democratic challenger Margie Wakefield.

But the poll by the Tarrence Group, a Republican research firm, also confirms that Wakefield had been running closer in recent weeks.

“Congresswoman Jenkins’ paid media campaign has had a very positive impact on the race and she almost tripled her lead over her Democratic challenger in the past two weeks,” the firm said in a memo dated Oct. 21. “Jenkins now holds a +12 lead on a trial ballot test for Congress.”