Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio (R) performs best among a field of Republican candidates in hypothetical match-ups for next year's Arizona governor's race, a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Nov. 18 In the survey of likely Arizona voters, Arpaio was the only GOP candidate to top likely Democratic nominee Terry Goddard, the state's current attorney general, 51 to 39 percent. Goddard led state Treasurer Dean Martin (R) 40 percent to 38 percent and incumbent Gov. Jan Brewer (R) 44 percent to 35 percent. The margin of error was 3 percent.
Arpaio, who is not in the race but has not ruled it out, benefits from the national profile he has earned by taking a hard line against illegal immigration in his county. Though controversial nationally, he remains popular in Arizona -- 63 percent of likely voters rated him favorably including 43 percent very favorably. Thirty-one percent viewed him unfavorably.
And 64 percent said they think Arpaio is doing the right thing by trying to work around federal law and track down illegal immigrants.
Goddard is the only other candidate polled who was regarded favorably by a majority of the electorate -- 51 percent to 35 percent unfavorably. Brewer, who has had a rocky tenure in the governor's mansion since filling the post in January, had a 44 to 48 percent favorable-to-unfavorable ratio.
Martin was the least known of the prospective candidates -- 32 percent had no opinion of him. Forty-one percent regarded him favorably to 27 percent unfavorably.
Brewer is the only declared candidate in the race, though Goddard is widely expected to run and Martin is actively considering it.
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