By James Jefferson
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Mike Beebe is the most recognized public official in Arkansas. No surprise there, but here’s the shocker: More than a third of residents in this football-rabid state never heard of Bobby Petrino.
In a poll commissioned by the Arkansas News Bureau/Stephens Media, 96 percent of respondents recognized Beebe’s name, while 34 percent did not recognize the name of Arkansas’ second-year head football coach whose Razorbacks capped an 8-5 season this month with a Liberty Bowl victory over East Carolina.
“There really are, believe it or not, some people in Arkansas who don’t follow football,” said J. Brad Coker, managing partner of Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc., the company that conducted the poll. “You are going to get some people who probably thought (Petrino) was running for the Republican (U.S. Senate) nomination.”
Washington, D.C.-based Mason-Dixon surveyed 625 registered voters statewide by telephone Monday through Wednesday. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Petrino fared better than some of the hopefuls who actually are vying for the GOP nomination to challenge incumbent Democrat Blanche Lincoln in the November general election.
Among Republicans named in the poll, only Jim Holt, who has run and lost two statewide races since 2004, was recognized by better than half (55 percent) of respondents. The rest were mostly unknown — Kim Hendren with 37 percent name recognition; Gilbert Baker, 37 percent; Tom Cox, 30 percent; Conrad Reynolds, 24 percent; and Curtis Coleman, 23 percent.
“There’s still time,” said state Republican Party spokeswoman Katherine Vasilos. “They still have plenty of time to get out there and get their name out there. Blanche Lincoln is obviously going to have a higher recognition. She’s been in office for quite some time, and Arkansans are familiar with her — they’re familiar with the good and the bad.”
Ninety-five percent of respondents recognized Lincoln. More said they viewed her unfavorably (41 percent) than favorably (39 percent).
The state’s senior senator fared only slightly better than President Obama, who lost the 2008 election in Arkansas by 20 points. Thirty-seven percent of respondents viewed Obama favorably, 50 percent unfavorably.
Two potential Democratic challengers to Lincoln also were named in the poll. Lt. Gov. Bill Halter had 70 percent name recognition and state Senate leader Bob Johnson 31 percent.
The highest approval rating in the poll was Beebe’s. Fifty-six said they have a favorable opinion of him, and only 7 percent said they have an unfavorable opinion.
Beebe’s strong numbers show he is insulated from an apparent Democratic backlash emanating from Washington, Coker said.
“The governor looks good. (His positives are) over 50 (percent) and his negatives are under 10,” Coker said. “What he is doing at the state level, people like. I think their anger is more directed at Washington.”
Arkansas’ other U.S. senator, Democrat Mark Pryor, had virtually total name recognition among poll respondents at 97 percent, with 42 percent viewing him favorably and 29 percent unfavorably.
Not up for re-election for two more years, Pryor “has time to ride out the storm,” Coker said.
As for Petrino, winning in the Southeastern Conference breeds popularity, Coker said. Thirty-five percent viewed Petrino favorably and 3 percent unfavorably. Twenty-eight percent had a neutral view of the coach.
“His favorable is pretty good for the number of people who recognize him,” Coker said. “He just landed there within the last two years. He needs to win a Western Division title … beat LSU and Alabama, get to Atlanta and he will be at 75 percent.”
The SEC championship game is played at the Georgia Dome.
