Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., dropped below the 50 percent mark in the latest Rasmussen Reports poll — he’s up 48 to 39 percent for Democratic challenger Jim Slattery. Dipping below 50 percent is a key indicator, say some political analysts, that a candidate might be vulnerable. Leading Slattery by only 9 points this early in the race also indicates some weakness.
Roberts is still the heavy favorite in his race. But the fact is, this just isn’t a good year for Republican incumbents, especially those who, like Roberts, have close ties to President Bush. Voters are in a surly, throw-the-bums-out mood. They want change.
Meanwhile, the poll indicates that Barack Obama has cut John McCain’s lead in Kansas in half, from a 21-percentage point lead in May to a 10-point spread in June, causing Rasmussen to move the state in the presidential race from “safely Republican†to “likely Republican.â€
