Brewer leads the polls over Goddard despite poor debate performance

PHOENIX - Governor Jan Brewer's performance at last week's debate brought on some serious criticisms, but apparently not enough to change the minds of voters.

A new Rasmussen Report telephone survey shows her leading the polls at 60 percent, way above Attorney General Terry Goddard's 38 percent.

"You would expect there to be some movement unless Governor Brewer has such solid support, that its unshakable." said Richard Herrra, Associate Professor, ASU School of Politics and Global Studies.

According to the survey, voters remain focused on issues that divide the two candidates.

"I think this is a issue based campaign the issues are speaking for themselves and the candidate have vastly different opinions on the issues and that's what it's going to come down." said Scott Grone, a voter.

Brewer's unshaken popularity is being contributed to SB 1070, the state's law cracking down on illegal immigration, even though it is being challenged by the U.S. Justice Department.

"She could probably say some things that don't deal with 1070, but deal with something else that they don't agree with and they still wouldn't be budged because 1070 is what these people care most about ."

According to the Rasmussen Reports she was also able to work around Goddard to battle the new national health care bill in court.

Goddard supports the health care bill and is against the immigration law.

The poll also shows 48 percent of voters say her handling of the debate is somewhat important in deciding who to vote for, with 22 percent placing the debate at high importance, but 51 percent said it wasn't important at all in how they will vote.

For Goddard to change the momentum, Herrera feels his campaign needs to take the focus off of SB1070 and onto the economy, "If the conversation shifts to the economy or issues other than SB 1070 and immigration, to the extent that that happens that will help the challenger."

But that could be tough, Brewer said she has no plans to participate in any other debates.

ASU political expert Richard Herrera said as long as her campaign manager keeps her out of debates and away from the media, there is little chance of Brewer making any mistakes that could hurt her in November.