Many fresh-faced politicians in the United States are relying on any sort of political lineage that could help swing the votes in their favor.

In Arkansas, Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Pryor is banking on the popularity of his father, former Arkansas governor and Sen. David Pryor, to lure voters in.

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Elsewhere, first-time political candidates and at-risk incumbents have also turned to their political lineages, hoping to get the same successful ending as the Kennedys, Clintons and the Bushes. Still, political experts said a candidate's win is not ensured with just family ties alone.

For instance, newcomer Clay Pell was third in the Democratic primary for Rhode Island's gubernatorial seat. The grandson of former U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, the younger Pell, often mentioned his late grandfather during the campaign, which, in turn, helped him win nearly 27 percent of the vote.

Candidates with popular family names also risk being cast by voters in the same category as the political elite by virtue of their surnames alone, creating more challenges for the aspiring politician.

Such is the case for Democratic state Sen. Jason Carter, who wants to become governor of Georgia, just like his grandfather, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The younger Carter, however, is distancing himself from the former president's liberal stance on several issues, including the controversial death penalty.

Former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn's daughter, Michelle Nunn, is also running to become Georgia's first Democratic senator in more than a decade. Nunn, a first-time political candidate, is slightly behind her Republican opponent David Perdue, who is a cousin of former state Gov. Sonny Perdue, according to recent polls.

Perdue's edge in the race notwithstanding, analysts said her family's name gave Nunn good media coverage, which would not have happened if she has a different surname.

TagsNews, US Politics, politics, politics news, Mark Pryor, Clay Pell, Jason Carter, Michelle Nunn, US elections