Rasmussen Reports, one of the most visible names in political polling, has released its first poll of the year on the Idaho gubernatorial race and for Democrat Keith Allred, things are not looking up.

The polling agency reports that incumbent Gov. Butch Otter holds a "comfortable" lead in the race and is beating Allred by 32 percentage points.  Otter stands at 60 percent of likely voters, while Allred receives 28 percent.  Only 9 percent of respondents were undecided, while just 3 percent said they preferred candidates other than Otter or Allred.

When asked about the results, Allred campaign spokesman Shea Andersen told IdahoReporter.com that he is delighted that Rasmussen picked Allred as the person most likely to beat Otter, and not any of the other nine candidates for governor.  None of the other candidates running for the position were mentioned by name in the poll results. (View all those in the running here.)

"The only poll that matters is the one taken on Election Day," said Andersen.  He said that Allred will continue to push forward and meeting with Idahoans about their "frustrations" with Otter.

The Otter campaign chose not to comment, but said it will release a statement on the poll results later in the day.

The poll also ties in the feelings of Idahoans on federal health care reforms passed in March and how support or opposition to the reforms might play into the statewide election.  According to Rasmussen, 65 percent of voters who "strongly oppose" the plan support Otter, while 18 percent of likely voters who "strongly support" reforms favor Allred.  Otter has been a visible and vocal opponent of health care reforms.  He held his first public bill signing ceremony during the legislative session to make into law the Idaho Health Freedom Act, giving the state attorney general a mandate to sue the federal government over health reforms.

IdahoReporter.com will report on the Otter camp's response to the polling data when it is made available.