Washington (CNN) - Iowa voters hold Sen. Chuck Grassley in high regard, but the veteran Republican potentially faces a tough re-election in what is shaping up to be a difficult year for incumbents.
Grassley has a favorable rating of 58 percent, according to a new Research 2000 poll conducted for KCCI. But Grassley, first elected to the Senate in 1980, has dropped 21 points over the past few months in a hypothetical match-up against Democratic challenger Roxanne Conlin. The KCCI poll shows that Grassley leads Conlin 49 percent to 40 percent. The telephone survey of 600 likely voters was conducted between May 3-5 and has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
In past elections, the five-term senator has enjoyed healthy margins of victory. In 2004, Grassley topped his Democratic opponent 70 percent to 28 percent.
But Thursday's poll comes amidst a wave of anti-incumbent sentiment that is so severe it led National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn of Texas to say earlier this week, "Thank goodness I'm not running this time."
Read the full poll results here.
From CNN Politics
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The same Chuck Grassley who was lying about healthcare reform? That Chuck Grassley? His time is up! Pack your bags Chuck adn don't let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya.
As an Iowan, I agree with the polls on this one.
His true colors bagan to show during the Bush administration, and more recently when he made false statements about the healthcare bill.
Sorry Chuck! but that one was the last straw!
I have voted for him in the past, but this fall I will not.
He should consult his own death panel!!! LOL, LOL, LOL
Senator, you LIED about health care reform "pulling the plug on grandma", so now the voters may pull the plug on you. You reap what you sow.
GOP voters are sure clueless when it comes to voting for the right candidate that cares about the Average American. Grassley is a Corporate Goon and his goal is to eliminate the middle class. WAKE UP PEOPLE
good riddens liar!
I can't wait for November.
I hope Iowans get rid of him. He almost helped derail healthcare reform. Iowa deserves better.
Hey Sen Grassley two word for you..."YOU LIE!"
It's time to send this backward Goober back to the farm!
Have had the utmost respect for the Senator till the past couple of yrs. Apparently pandering to the Republican Party is more important then telling the truth to his constituents. What he has said and done during the health care debate is shameful. Apparently Iowans are now beginning to recognize him for what he really is–just another politican with no regard for the voters.
seriously, did this Guy not know his re-election would count on what he had stated in the past? I agree with The monk on that one. He did that to himself.
Iowa voters are some of the nations smartest people and it doesn't pay to mislead or lie to them. They are the truth of consequences voters.
Wow. If Repubs thought that reclaiming the house and/or Senate would be easy, they better think again.
Grassley has lost a lot of credibility in the last year among Iowans. Moderates and progressives in Iowa have generally respected Grassley even when we disagreed with his ideology, because he's been a good advocate for Iowa and displayed a great deal of integrity and respect. But last year he opted for political grandstanding ("pulling the plug on granny") and it really turned a lot of us off. He turned into just another partisan politician.
The senator lied about health care, did not negoeciate in good faith and continued to lie when he said he didn't lie, another lie. In short you chose party politics over helping the American people, you know the ones who elected you. You are supposed to be doing the peoples work, not the GOP's work. We The People are tired of your lies and the lies of the GOP.
Vote NO in NOvember to the party of NO.
My favorable rating of any fool that went around trying to make people think the government is wanting a health care plan so they can pull the plug on Grand Ma.
The only thing worse than such an Idiot as this would only be the Idiot that wants to send him back to Washington to be one of our leaders
For crying out loud, this guy's been in public office for 30 years. Time to get rid of this career politician Iowa! Nothing will ever change in the Washington scene as long as these career politicans are voted back in time and time again. Fire him! Let him go find a real job where he works 5 days a week and only gets 2 weeks off for vacation like the rest of us.
Yeah, this guy is the type that would talk about you behind your back.
In washington he says one thing, got back home and says another. Pull the plug on Grandmom indeed.
it is time for chuck to go,you decided to put the party first ahead of the people now the people should vote you out,you have lied,flip,floped and took credit for something you voted against.people are not as dumb as you think.
Grassley has been exposed as another disingenuous politician who is not negotiating in good faith for the American people, especially after Grassley's deather lies.
Time to vote for someone else with more integrity.
The guy's a dirtbag. Vote him out AND take away his pension.
After his "Kill Granny" lies, how can anyone trust anything that he says? Lying to your constituents SHOULD get you voted out of office.
People are just paying closer attention these days. When someone lies so blatently, the constituents see right through it. Wish we could ditch Mitch.
Five terms .... isn't it time for new blood .... new ideas .... a senator that is hungry and wants to serve the people of Iowa.
Wasn't it Grassly that knowingly & falsely spread the LIE about Death Panels and pulling the plug on grannie?
30 years is long enough Iowa ... vote him out.