Rasmussen. 7/20. Likely voters. MoE 4.5% (7/27 results)
Talent (R) 42 (42)
McCaskill (D) 45 (42)
While a 3-point lead for the challenger is well within the survey’s margin of sampling error, it is a concern for any incumbent to be so far below the 50% level of support at this point in the campaign. Four other Republican incumbents are in similar or even more difficult circumstances (Santorum in Pennsylvania, Burns in Montana, Chafee in Rhode Island, and DeWine in Ohio).
The jump may very well have come from the stem cell debate in Congress. Talent is an opponent of life-saving stem cell research, while McCaskill is a supporter in a state that is strongly pro-stem cell research.
On the web: Claire McCaskill for Senate