Poll Shows Kennedy in Danger of Losing Rhode Island Seat

Posted in: NewsWire
By Jerry A. Kane
Friday, February 05, 2010 - 1:33:43 PM ET

Hot on the heels of the Massachusetts miracle where Republican State Senator Scott Brown toppled Democrat Attorney General Martha Coakley, a recent WPRI-TV, Channel 12 poll reveals Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) could be facing his most difficult bid for re-election.

The poll, conducted by Fleming & Associates for WPRI-12, shows the eight-term incumbent with a 56 percent unfavorable rating in his district and a 62 percent unfavorable rating statewide. According to the poll, only 35 percent of voters in the First Congressional District said they would vote to re-elect him, 31 percent would consider a different candidate, and 28 percent would vote to replace him.

"It looks like it could be a very competitive race, which we haven't seen in many years," Eyewitness News analyst and pollster Joe Fleming said.

Among independents, only 26 percent would keep him in office, 42 percent would consider someone else, and 25 percent would vote ABK (anybody but Kennedy).

"The numbers for independent for [sic] voters have to be a big concern especially with what happened in Massachusetts with Scott Brown," said Fleming. "He has to get independent voters back and support him in order to win re-election for congress."

Republican state Representative John Loughlin who announced his candidacy Thursday was not mentioned in the telephone poll of registered voters, conducted between Jan. 27 and 31 with a margin of error of at least 3.8 percent.

"Clearly this is a Congressman who is out of touch," Loughlin said. “He's lost touch with his constituents and that's certainly reflected in the numbers.â€