(Rasmussen Research) – Democratic Senator 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% of the vote each. Five percent (5%) prefer another candidate and six percent (6%) more are undecided.
Reid and Angle were tied two weeks ago at 47% a piece.
Earlier this year, Reid was considered to be one of the Senate’s most vulnerable incumbents. He picked up just 39% of the vote following Angle’s primary victory but has seen his own numbers improve to 41% in late June, 43% in early July, 45% in late July and 47% 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% of the statewide vote following her primary victory in early June. That fell to 48% later that month, 46% in early July and 43% in late July. The 47% 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 Toss-Up in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Senate Balance of Power rankings.
When leaners are included in the new totals, Reid attracts 50% of the vote, while Angle picks up 47%. Two weeks ago, Angle held a small 50% to 48% 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 towards 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.
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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Nevada was conducted on September 1, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Ninety-two percent (92%) 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 (85%) of voters who back Reid say they are certain of their vote.
Angle is backed by 83% of Republicans while Reid is supported by 78% of Democrats in the state. The candidates are in a virtual tie among voters not affiliated with either major political party. Platinum Members can review full demographic crosstabs.
Like voters in the rest of the country, Nevada voters put the economy first when it comes to how they vote. Fifty-one percent (51%) say economic issues are the most important in determining how they vote. Fiscal issues come in a distant second with 16% who say they are most important.
Reid holds a 56% to 38% lead over Angle among voters who consider economic issues to be the most important. Angle holds a nearly seven-to-one lead among voters who put fiscal issues at the top of their list.
Reid is viewed Very Favorably by 25%, but Very Unfavorably by 43%.
Angle’s reviews are 18% Very Favorable, 38% Very Unfavorable.
At this point in a campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the number of people with strong opinions more significant than the total favorable/unfavorable numbers.
Sixty-two percent (62%) of Nevada voters are at least somewhat angry at the current policies of the federal government, which is only slightly lower than results found nationally. Fifty-seven percent (57%) in Nevada believe neither party’s political leaders have a good understanding of what is needed today.
Only 30% in Nevada believe their representative in Congress is the best possible person for the job, while 44% disagree. While 37% say their representative deserves to be reelected, a plurality (45%) disagrees.
Though only 19% of Nevada voters have ever attended a town hall meeting with their congressmen or senator, 69% think the politicians at the meetings should listen to the views of their constituents, rather than explain legislation and issues. Sixty-six percent (66%) in Nevada believe most members of Congress don’t care what their constituents think.
Eighty-six percent (86%) in Nevada say they know someone out of work and looking for a job, and 56% say the job market is worse today than it was a year ago.
Forty-eight percent (48%) of Nevada voters now approve of the job President Obama is doing, but 50% disapprove. These ratings are slightly higher than Obama’s job approval ratings nationally in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.
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