Rasmussen: Reid, Angle in Dead HeatFriday, 03 Sep 2010
Democratic Sen. Harry Reid and his Republican challenger Sharron Angle are still neck-and-neck in Nevada’s race for U.S. Senate.
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows the candidates tied with 45 percent of the vote each. Five percent prefer another candidate and 6 percent more are undecided.
Reid and Angle were tied two weeks ago at 47 percent apiece.
Earlier this year, Reid was considered to be one of the Senate’s most vulnerable incumbents. He picked up just 39 percent of the vote following Angle’s primary victory but has seen his own numbers improve to 41 percent in late June, 43 percent in early July, 45 percent in late July and 47 percent in mid-August.
This is the first survey since Angle’s victory which failed to show an increase in support for Reid. However, the current numbers match the average of the last three surveys suggesting a level of stability has entered the race.
For Angle, the numbers have been heading in the opposite direction. The GOP nominee attracted 50 percent of the statewide vote following her primary victory in early June. That fell to 48 percent later that month, 46 percent in early July, and 43 percent in late July.
The 47 percent support she received in August represented the first time her support had increased since the primary. As with Reid, her numbers appear to have stabilized.
The race remains a Tossup in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Senate Balance of Power rankings.
When leaners are included in the new totals, Reid attracts 50 percent of the vote, while Angle picks up 47 percent. Two weeks ago, Angle held a small 50 percent to 48 percent edge over Reid among leaners.
Leaners are those who initially indicate no preference for either of the candidates but answer a follow-up question and say they are leaning toward a particular candidate.
Early in any campaign, the numbers without leaners are generally more significant. Later in a campaign, the numbers with leaners matter more.
After Labor Day, Rasmussen Reports will report the numbers with leaners as the primary indicators of the campaign.
The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Nevada was conducted on Sept. 1, 2010, by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC.
Ninety-two percent of Angle’s supporters now say they are certain of their vote this November, up seven points over the past two weeks. Eighty-five percent of voters who back Reid say they are certain of their vote.
Angle is backed by 83 percent of Republicans while Reid is supported by 78 percent of Democrats in the state. The candidates are in a virtual tie among voters not affiliated with either major political party.
Like voters in the rest of the country, Nevada voters put the economy first when it comes to how they vote. Fifty-one percent say economic issues are the most important in determining how they vote.
Reid holds a 56 percent to 38 percent lead over Angle among voters who consider economic issues to be the most important.
Reid is viewed Very Favorably by 25 percent but Very Unfavorably by 43 percent.
Angle’s reviews are 18 percent Very Favorable, 38 percent Very Unfavorable.
http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/RasmussenReidAngleDead-Heat/2010/09/03/id/369200
