In Alabama, John McCain leads both of his potential Democratic challengers by wide margins. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey shows McCain leading Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama by eighteen percentage points, 55% to 37%. Hillary Clinton does a bit better, but still trails by double digits, 51% to 40%.

McCain is viewed favorably by 60% of voters in the state. Neither Democrat comes close to that mark—46% have a favorable opinion of Clinton while 39% say the same about Obama.

Forty-five percent (45%) say the economy is the top issue of Election 2008. Sixteen percent (16%) name the War in Iraq as the highest priority while 14% cite National Security.

Just 18% rate the U.S. economy as good or excellent. Forty percent (40%) say it’s in fair shape while 42% say poor. Nationally, consumer confidence is at the lowest levels of the past seven years. Twelve percent (12%) of Alabama voters believe the economy is getting better while 67% say it’s getting worse.

Fifty-two percent (52%) believe the U.S. and its allies are winning the War on Terror while 21% believe the terrorists are winning. That’s a bit more optimistic than the national average. Thirty-seven percent (37%) expect things to get better in Iraq over the next six months while 35% say things will get worse.

Fifty-eight percent (58%) of Alabama voters believe that American society is generally fair and decent. Thirty-one percent (31%) say it’s unfair and discriminatory. That’s a bit more negative than the national average. McCain has a huge lead over those who see society as fair and decent. The Democrats are leading among those who view society as generally unfair and discriminatory.

Forty-two percent (42%) say that President Bush is doing a good or an excellent job while 42% give him poor marks. That is significantly better than the ratings earned by the President nationwide.

On a local matter, 59% believe that it’s at least somewhat likely that the prosecution of former Governor Don Siegelman was politically motivate. That includes 32% who say it’s Very Likely that the prosecution was politically motivated. Siegelman is viewed favorably by 41% and unfavorably by 53%.

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