Poll: GOP Sen. Ted Stevens Down By Eight In Re-Election Bid

A new Rasmussen poll of Alaska has some big news: Democratic candidate for Senate Mark Begich now leads long-time incumbent Republican Ted Stevens by a margin of 52%-44%, in a deep-red state that hasn’t sent a Dem to Congress since 1974.

Stevens has been easily re-elected since he was first appointed to his seat in the late 1960s, but his many ethics scandals have slowly but surely dragged his popularity down. He now has only a 50% approval rating to a nearly-identical 48% unfavorable rating, compared to Begich’s 63%-34% favorables.

In short, Republicans could be on track to lose this seat unless something drastic happens.