Little has changed this month in Missouri’s race for U.S. Senate, but Republican Congressman Roy Blunt now earns 50% support for the first time against Democrat Robin Carnahan.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the state’s Likely Voters shows Carnahan, Missouri's secretary of state, with 42% of the vote. Only four percent (4%) would opt for some other candidate, while another four percent (4%) are undecided at this point.
Still, support for both candidates has changed little over the past several months. Since January, Blunt has earned between 47% and 50% support. His support was slightly lower in September and December of last year.
Carnahan's support has ranged between 41% to 43% in surveys conducted in 2010. She earned a high of 46% last September and December.
Missouri voters are even more strongly in favor of repeal of the new national health care plan than voters nationally. Sixty-two percent (62%) of Missouri voters favor repeal of the plan, up three points from 59% a month ago, while 35% are opposed to repeal. This includes 51% who Strongly Favor repeal and 27% who Strongly Oppose it.
Eighty-six percent (86%) of voters who Strongly Oppose repeal support Carnahan, while 82% of the larger group that Strongly Favors repeal back Blunt.
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Missouri was conducted on May 3, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/-4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Blunt leads among both male and female voters in the state. Voters in Missouri not affiliated with either major party favor Blunt over Carnahan by a two-to-one margin.
Both candidates are members of well-known political families in the state. Blunt, a member of Congress since 1997, has held the number two GOP position in the House, serving as minority whip. His son was governor of Missouri from 2005 to 2009. Carnahan is the daughter of an ex-senator and a former governor. The seat they are contesting for is being vacated by retiring Republican Senator Kit Bond.
Blunt is viewed very favorably by 16% of Missouri voters and very unfavorably by 15%.
Carnahan earns very favorable reviews from 23% and very unfavorable ratings from 27%.
At this point in a campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the number of people with strong opinions more significant than the total favorable/unfavorable numbers.
Carnahan edges Blunt in media coverage over the past week as measured by the Rasmussen Reports Media Meter. The Media Meter is updated on a daily basis.
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