Missouri Senate race for retiring Republican Senator Kit Bond – Blunt (R) 49%, Carnahan (D) 42%

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in the state shows Republican Roy Blunt leading Democrat Robin Carnahan 49% to 42%. Just three percent (3%) of Missouri voters would opt for some other candidate, while six percent (6%) are undecided at this point.

In January, Blunt held a 49% to 43% lead over Carnahan, who is currently Missouri’s secretary of state. That survey marked a shift in Blunt’s favor from a poll conducted in December, when Carnahan held a modest two-point lead. In September, both candidates were at 46%.

Men in Missouri heavily favor Blunt, while women are evenly divided between the candidates. Voters not affiliated with either party prefer Blunt by a two-to-one margin, 55% to 27%.

Last month just after upset GOP Senate win in Massachusetts, political analyst Larry Sabato rated the Missouri Senate race as a toss-up but said, given the current political climate, Blunt would be the winner if the election were held at that time.

The two candidates, both members of prominent Missouri political families, are the front-runners for their parties’ nominations. Both parties will pick their candidates in August 3 primaries.

Voters have stronger feelings about Carnahan, the daughter of an ex-senator and a former governor, than Blunt. While 20% of voters have a very favorable opinion of the Democrat, 25% view her very unfavorably.

As for Blunt, a longtime U.S. congressman, 12% view him very favorably while 17% view him very unfavorably. Blunt’s son was governor of Missouri from 2005-2009.

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

The state’s current governor, Jay Nixon, earns mostly positive marks from voters. Fifty-six percent (56%) of Missouri voters approve of their governor’s performance, while 41% disapprove.

No TweetBacks yet. (Be the first to Tweet this post)

February 12, 2010 · Filed Under 2010 Elections


Comments