Democrat Loses Ground in Arizona Governor's Race

The four Republicans, including incumbent Jan Brewer, who are running for Arizona governor have all either moved ahead or gained ground on Democrat Terry Goddard, the state's attorney general, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted April 15.

Brewer, who has been buffeted by budget woes and battles with her own party, now leads Goddard by 44 percent to 40 percent with 9 percent preferring another candidate and 6 percent undecided. Last month, Goddard had led Brewer by 45 percent to 36 percent. The margin of error for all match-ups is 4.5 points.

Former state Republican chairman John Munger leads Goddard by 44 percent to 37 percent with 10 percent preferring someone else and 9 percent undecided. Last month, Goddard led Munger, 42 percent to 36 percent.

State Treasurer Dean Martin leads Goddard, 47 percent to 34 percent, with 8 percent preferring another choice and 11 percent undecided. Last month, Martin's lead was 43 percent to 38 percent.

Businessman Buz Mills, a political newcomer who has plowed nearly $2.1 million of his own money into his campaign, leads Goddard, 46 percent to 37 percent, with 8 percent preferring another candidate and 9 percent undecided. Last month, his lead was 43 percent to 37 percent.

Goddard is seen favorably by 49 percent of voters and unfavorably by 42 percent. Brewer is seen unfavorably by 50 percent and unfavorably by 45 percent. They are the two best-known candidates. A quarter or more of all voters don't know enough about the other candidates to be sure of their opinion of them.

Goddard's support among fellow Democrats is higher than that enjoyed by the Republican hopefuls, but that gap is likely to narrow when Republicans settle on a nominee. With the exception of Brewer, all the Republicans have double-digit leads over Goddard among unaffiliated voters.

In a Rasmussen poll conducted April 13, Brewer was leading the race for the Republican nomination with 26 percent followed by Mills at 18, percent, Monger at 14 percent and Martin at 12 percent. Six percent said they preferred some other candidate while 24 percent are undecided. The margin of error was 4.5 points.

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