Poll: Kyl popular with GOP voters, but could be more conservative

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) will likely not need to worry about a serious Tea Party challenge, according to a new poll from Public Policy Polling (PPP).

However, the poll also indicates that even if a Republican lawmaker is popular with GOP primary voters, they still might prefer more conservative representation. And of the potential GOP nominees for president in 2012, Mitt Romney appears to have the inside track in Arizona.

Kyl, who will have to run for re-election in 2012, enjoys a 70 percent approval rating among conservative primary voters, with just 16 percent saying they disapprove of his work in the Senate.

In addition, of those surveyed, just nine percent think he is too liberal, an indication that it would be difficult for a more conservative politician to challenge him in a primary from the right.

However, even with primary voters acknowledging Kyl's conservative bona fides, when asked if they would support Kyl if a more conservative candidate was on the same ballot, just 46 percent said they would back Kyl. Another 30 percent said they would opt for the more conservative candidate.

Republican Arizonans currently favor Romney to face President Obama in the 2012 election. Romney enjoys support from 23 percent of those polled. PPP notes that in Arizona, he is being backed by both conservatives and moderates, as opposed to other polls that indicate his popularity with moderates offset opposition from conservatives. Mike Huckabee came in second in the poll at 19 percent.

Despite having the highest favorability rating of those polled, Sarah Palin comes in tied for third for potential Republican candidates. Alongside Newt Gingrich, 15 percent of those polled would back her bid for president. Those polled gave Palin a 66 percent favorability rating, putting her ahead of Romney and Huckabee, who each garnered 62 percent favorability marks.

Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) received five percent support for president in the poll, while Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty received four percent. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels received two percent, while Sen. John Thune (S.D.) receive just a single percentage point.