A new poll conducted for the re-election campaign of Sen. Lamar Alexander (R) shows the Senator handily beating the best Democratic candidates who have so far stepped forward for this year’s race.

The survey of 600 registered voters that was conducted for Alexander March 5-9 by Ayres, McHenry & Associates showed Alexander leading former Knox County Clerk Mike Padgett (D) 58 percent to 31 percent with 11 percent undecided. The poll had a 4-point margin of error.

In a head-to-head matchup with former state Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke — who announced earlier this month that he was entering the race — Alexander extended his lead to 59 percent to 28 percent with 14 percent undecided.

The survey found Alexander’s favorable rating to be 67 percent, the highest in the six times that Ayres, McHenry & Associates have tested the first-term Senator’s favorability rating since March 2002.
— John McArdle