McCain gets high marks from GOP base

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) not only leads his primary opponent in a new poll, but also garners a high approval rating from the GOP base.

McCain leads former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) 52-37 in a head-to-head matchup.

The new Research 2000 poll for the liberal website Daily Kos also shows McCain with a 76 percent favorable rating among Republicans, with 19 percent unfavorable. Hayworth’s numbers are 61 percent positive and 16 percent negative.

The numbers seem to indicate that Hayworth isn’t necessarily seen as a superior candidate by the GOP base. If McCain is ousted, it will probably be because of the anti-incumbent sentiment that exists right now.

Whether Hayworth can fill that role remains to be seen. Replacing an incumbent senator with a former congressman who can be tied to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff doesn’t seem like a logical way for voters to express their dismay with Washington.

McCain also learned this week that he outraised Hayworth more than 2 to 1, bringing in $2.2 million to his primary opponent’s $1 million.

The primary is August 24.