Two days after a prominent Kentucky Democrat announced a potential challenge to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, new polling is encouraging McConnell detractors.

The polls show that McConnell, the Senate GOP leader, is out of touch with the nation by continuing to support President Bush and the war in Iraq, his opponents say.

A SurveyUSA poll shows that McConnell's approval rating is at 48 percent while 44 percent of voters disapprove. The poll of 600 Kentucky adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percent. It was conducted July 17.

"At a time when Kentuckians are crying out for change, Mitch McConnell is leading one of the most obstructionist parties in the history of the Senate," Matthew Miller, spokesman for Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said in a statement. "This poll shows that as long as Mitch McConnell is carrying out George Bush's agenda and blocking important legislation supported by his constituents, he will find his standing at home in jeopardy."