PPP Poll: Mark Begich More Highly Regarded By Alaskans Than Sean Parnell

Here it is, from Public Policy Polling:

Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Sean Parnell’s job performance?
Approve .......................................................... 46%
Disapprove...................................................... 44%
Not sure .......................................................... 10%

Q11 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Mark Begich’s job performance?
Approve .......................................................... 49%
Disapprove...................................................... 39%
Not sure .......................................................... 12%

Considering things like the constant vilification of Begich by AM talk radio and their ilk, one would think Mark would be in worse shape.  Why he is not might be an interesting question for the media, or for pollsters to explore.  I suspect his ten point edge between approval and disapproval, versus Parnell's two point edge is mostly because the public perceives Begich to be doing his job well, and that they are far less sure about Parnell.  This is particularly interesting because of the political makeup of the people polled:

Q27 Would you describe yourself as very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ...................................................... 9%
Somewhat liberal ............................................ 15%
Moderate......................................................... 33%
Somewhat conservative.................................. 25%
Very conservative ........................................... 19%

When the Harper polling information came out last week, I wondered how the absent Mayor Dan Sullivan would do in a poll.  PPP answers that:

Q25 (Asked of 537 Republican primary voters) If Sean Parnell did not run for the Senate next year, who would you most like to see as the Republican candidate, given the choices of Loren Leman, Joe Miller, Dan Sullivan, and Mead Treadwell?
Loren Leman................................................... 20%
Joe Miller ........................................................ 19%
Dan Sullivan.................................................... 29%
Mead Treadwell .............................................. 23%
Someone else/Not sure .................................. 9%

Head to head, Begich shows a substantial lead against Sullivan:

Q21 If the candidates for Senate next year were Democrat Mark Begich and Republican Dan Sullivan, who would you vote for?
Mark Begich.................................................... 47%
Dan Sullivan.................................................... 41%
Not sure .......................................................... 12%

Begich isn't unbeatable, but at this point he looks pretty formidable.

That Joe Miller is less popular than "The Undertaker," Loren Leman, and has a 60% disapproval rating, might be another nail in Miller's political coffin.

[the author supported Sen. Begich in 2008, and has contributed to his 2014 campaign]