Rasmussen: Reid, Angle in Dead HeatWednesday, 18 Aug 2010
The U.S. Senate race in Nevada remains very close.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in Nevada shows Democratic Sen. Harry Reid and his Republican challenger Sharron Angle tied with 47 percent of the vote each.
Five percent prefer some other candidate, and 2 percent are undecided.
Two weeks ago, Reid held a two-point advantage over Angle.
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 today.
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 current survey represents the first time her support has increased since the primary.
When leaners are included in the new totals, Angle attracts 50 percent of the vote, while Reid picks up 48 percent.
This is the first Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 survey in Nevada to include 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.
With this latest survey, Nevada shifts from Leans Democratic to Toss-Up in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power summary.
Voters in Nevada already have staked out firm positions on the candidates. Eighty-eight percent of Reid’s supporters say that they are certain to vote for him and won’t change their mind. Eight-five percent of Angle’s supporters say the same.
The survey of 750 likely voters in Nevada was conducted on August 16, 2010, by Rasmussen Reports.
Both Reid and Angle earn overwhelming support from members of their own parties. Angle leads among voters not affiliated with either major party by a 52 percent to 35 percent margin.
Nevada voters have a gloomier assessment of the economy than voters in many other states. Only 6 percent rate the economy as good or excellent, while 66 percent describe it as poor. Twenty-six percent say the economy is getting better, but twice as many (53 percent) think it’s getting worse.
Eighty percent of all Nevada voters say the country is in an economic recession.
Twenty-six percent of the state’s voters hold a very favorable opinion of Reid, who has represented Nevada in the Senate since 1987. But 44 percent view him very unfavorably.
Angle, a former state legislator, is viewed very favorably by 17 percent and very unfavorably by 39 percent.
At this point in a campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the number of people with strong opinions more significant than the total favorable/unfavorable numbers.
Forty-five percent of Nevada voters now approve of the job President Obama is doing, but 55 percent disapprove. This is in line with Obama’s job approval ratings nationally in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.
http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Rasmussen--Reid--Angle--Nevada--Senate--Sharron/2010/08/18/id/367825
