Kentucky poll: 50 percent want Paul to sit out 2016

Republican Sen. Rand Paul would win his home state of Kentucky if he ran for president, but many voters there think he should stay out of the 2016 contest, according to a new poll. 

The Democratic leaning Public Policy Polling found 50 percent of voters in Kentucky think he should not run for president, while 34 percent think he should get in the race. 

{mosads}Another 15 percent are unsure. 

Unsurprisingly, his numbers are dragged down by Democrats — 65 percent say he should not run for president. Another 22 percent think he should. 

Forty-eight percent of Republicans and 42 percent of independents think he should run. Thirty-two percent of Republicans and 44 percent of independents think he should stay out of the race. 

Similar polls in the past have found majorities of voters in the home states of politicians —  including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) — do not want their elected officials to run for president. 

Forty-seven percent of Kentucky voters approve of Paul, while 39 percent disapprove. Another 14 percent are not sure. 

Forty-four percent of voters have a higher opinion of Paul than Kentucky’s other Republican senator, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Among Republicans, 25 percent said they want Paul to get the GOP nomination over other potential candidates. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee trailed most closely behind, with 18 percent. 

In the general election, Paul tops Hillary Clinton in the red-leaning state 49 percent to 43 percent. 

The poll surveyed 991 Kentucky voters Aug. 7-10 and has a 3.1 percent margin of error. That includes 383 Republican primary voters, which contains a 5-point margin of error.