Sen. Blanche Lincoln Trails Potential GOP Contenders for Her Arkansas Seat

Two-term Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln, who finds herself at the center of the health care reform debate, is running behind or statistically tied with four potential Republican challengers for her Arkansas seat, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Dec. 1.

The Rasmussen poll shows 65 percent of voters in the state somewhat or strongly oppose the health care proposals advocated by President Obama and Democrats, with 56 percent of that number in the "strongly" oppose camp. Among those who strongly oppose the proposals, Lincoln trails all four Republicans by more than 50 points.

State Sen. Kim Hendren, who attracted some unwelcome national publicity last May when he called New York Sen. Charles Schumer "that Jew," leads Lincoln, 46 percent to 39 percent, with 6 percent preferring someone else and 9 percent undecided. (The margin of error for all the results in this post is 4.5 points)

Former Arkansas GOP chairman Gilbert Baker runs ahead of Lincoln by 47 percent to 41 percent, with 6 percent preferring another candidate and 7 percent undecided.

Businessman Curtis Coleman leads Lincoln, 44 percent to 40 percent, with 7 percent preferring someone else and 9 percent undecided.

Tea Party activist Tom Cox leads Lincoln, 43 percent to 40 percent, with 7 percent preferring someone else and 10 percent undecided.

All of the Republicans have the advantage right now, even though 39 percent of voters don't yet know enough about them to express a favorable or unfavorable opinion. Lincoln is seen unfavorably by 52 percent of voters and favorably by 43 percent, with 5 percent undecided.