Lukewarm Feelings About McCain in His Home State

Sen. John McCain is not particularly popular in his home state of Arizona, although he doesn't have much to worry about in getting re-elected next year, according to a Public Policy Polling survey conducted Sept. 18-21.

Forty-eight percent of voters approve of the job he is doing while 42 percent disapprove and 10 percent are undecided. His approval among fellow Republicans is a tepid (for an incumbent) 65 percent to 25 percent.

However, if McCain were matched against even a figure as well-known as former Gov. Janet Napolitano, who left the job to become Secretary of Homeland Security, he outpolls her 50 percent to 43 percent with 7 percent undecided.

PPP also tested hypothetical races between McCain and a couple of lesser known Republicans. He beats Tucson City Councilman Rodney Glassman by 55 percent to 25 percent with 20 percent undecided, and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords by 57 percent to 30 percent with 13 percent undecided.

The margin of error is 3.9 points.