Nevada Senate: Reid’s Support Still Frozen at Around 40%

(Rasmussen Reports) – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s support remains frozen again this month around 40%, while two of his chief Republican opponents continue to draw over 50% of the vote in Nevada’s U.S. Senate race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Nevada shows Reid earning 39% to 41% support, depending on his opponent, well below the 50% safe mark for incumbents. His numbers are virtually identical to findings in the previous survey earlier this month and in line with surveys since last fall when his support began trending down.

Reid, who is seeking a fifth term in the Senate, received 61% of the vote in 2004.

Nearly half the voters in the state (47%) continue to have a very unfavorable view of the Democratic incumbent, while 23% view him very favorably.

In her match-up with Reid, Sue Lowden, ex-chairman of the Nevada Republican Party, earns 52% of the vote to Reid’s 39%. Businessman Danny Tarkanian gets 51% support to Reid’s 41%. Both Republicans have been hovering around 50% for months.

A third GOP hopeful, former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, wins 48% to 40% for the Democratic incumbent. Angle, too, has consistently beaten Reid in head-to-head match-ups but by slightly smaller margins that Lowden and Tarkanian.

Republicans will pick their nominees for Senate and governor in a June 8 primary.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters in the state favor repeal of the recently-passed national health care plan, a view shared by 58% of voters nationally. Forty-four percent (44%) in Nevada oppose repeal. These numbers include 47% who Strongly Favor repeal and 37% who Strongly Oppose.

All three Republicans carry more than 80% of the votes of those who Strongly Favor repeal, while Reid, who led congressional efforts to pass the plan, gets similar support from those who Strongly Oppose it.

Following Arizona’s passage of a law cracking down on illegal immigration, Reid has signaled an interest in bringing immigration reform to a vote this year.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Nevada voters favor legislation like Arizona’s that authorizes local police to stop and verify the immigration status of anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant. Thirty-one percent (31%) oppose such legislation.

Nationally, 60% of voters support such legislation.

Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters in Nevada are at least somewhat concerned that efforts to identify and deport illegal immigrants will violate the rights of some U.S. citizens. Forty-two percent (42%) do not share that concern.

Fifty-four percent (54%) favor an immigration policy that welcomes all immigrants except “national security threats, criminals and those who would come here to live off our welfare system.” Twenty-six percent (26%) disagree with such a policy, while 21% more are not sure.

Lowden is viewed very favorably by 15% of Nevada voters and very unfavorably by 19%.

Nineteen percent (19%) have a very favorable opinion of Tarkanian, while 15% regard him very unfavorably.

For Angle, very favorables are nine percent (9%) and very unfavorables 11%.

At this point in a campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the number of people with a strong opinion more significant than the total favorable/unfavorable numbers.

Reid also may try to shepherd a major energy bill that addresses global warming through the Senate this year. Forty-five percent (45%) of Nevada voters favor such a bill, while 39% oppose it.

Fifty-one percent (51%) say it’s at least somewhat important to pass such a bill this year, but 46% don’t see any such urgency.

Reid has criticized congressional Republicans for being the Party of No because of their united opposition to the Democrats’ agenda. Seventy-two percent (72%) of Nevada voters correctly identify the GOP as the Party of No, and only 34% think that’s a good place for Republicans to be. Forty-four percent (44%) say it’s a bad thing, but another 23% aren’t sure.

Sixty percent (60%) of voters in the state say America is overtaxed, compared to 66% of voters nationwide.

Forty-eight percent (48%) of Nevada voters now approve of the job President Obama is doing, up slightly from the previous survey, while 51% disapprove. This is comparable to views nationally in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.