Rasmussen has posted a new poll on Missouri's Senate race. Democratic nominee Claire McCaskill leads incumbent Jim Talent by a statistically meaningless one point, 42%-41%.
McCaskill has held her own in Rasmussen's polls for several months. I believe the Missouri Senate race is one the most underrated of the cycle, a better target than Ohio.
Missouri is a purple state with a deeply unpopular governor and an overstretched Republican legislature suffering backlash after a resurgence based on culture wars. Now Democrats have begun winning special elections for state legislative seats in deep red parts of the state and we've got the best nominee we could get, an accomplished woman with rural and KC roots, leading the ticket against a weaselly country club conservative from the St. Louis suburbs.
Because Kerry chose not to contest Missouri, many people have written it off as too Republican to fight. That's not the case. In 2000, Missouri was as close or closer than Ohio for Gore, and in 2004 Kerry did reasonably well considering he did not contest the state at all and the issues that decided that election cut sharply against Democrats there in that electorial climate. McCaskill is choosing her battles wisely and fighting Talent on the issues that resonate.
The poll also surveyed opinions about immigration.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/...