Although Sen. John McCain has now spent more than $3 million on misleading, negative attack ads, his popularity is on the decline according to a new Rasmussen Reports released today.

U.S. Senate Candidate J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) today said he is pleased that he is within striking distance of Sen. John McCain.

"Sen. McCain finds his popularity in decline. He actually dropped in the poll from last month to today," Hayworth said. "Rasmussen compared Sen. McCain's standing today to that of Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania who lost this year after he led in just about all early polling. The Specter factor seems to be at play in this race."

Today Rasmussen Reports had the race at 47 percent McCain and 36 percent Hayworth. Protest candidate Jim Deakin has 7 percent. The remaining voters were for other or were undecided.

"This is clearly a two-person race," Hayworth said. "Despite a massive, negative, misleading campaign by Sen. McCain, voters still recognize that he has been there too long and does not represent our values."

Rasmussen noted that any incumbent who earns less that 50 percent support is considered potentially vulnerable and McCain has been hovering around that mark all year.

Hayworth noted the trend has not been good for McCain. The incumbent's ratings have ranged from 53 percent in January to 47 percent in this latest survey.

The survey of 707 likely Republican Primary voters was conducted June 16 and has a 4 percentage point margin of error.

"I think this anti-Washington Establishment feeling is alive and well," Hayworth said. "Voters are sick and tired of the same old tired, negative campaign tactics and they are turning on Sen. McCain."

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