Surprise Edge for McCain Over Rival

John McCain faces a challenge from the right in the Arizona primary, but a new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll finds him in a remarkably strong position. Rival JD Hayworth excites far-right conservatives, but his favorability/unfavorability spread with Republicans overall is slightly weaker, at 61% to 16%, than McCain's 76% to 19%. More important, McCain is much more popular with Democrats and independents: Hayworth has a net negative favorability with voters overall, and he lags McCain in hypothetical matchups with likely Democratic challengers.
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