These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
Election 2010: Nevada Senate Race
Support among Nevada voters for embattled Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's reelection has fallen even further following disclosure in a new book of remarks he made about Barack Obama during Election 2008.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in Nevada finds Reid earning just 36% of the vote against his two top Republican challengers. That's a seven-point drop from 43% a month ago.
Reid, who is seeking a fifth term, received 61% of the final vote in 2004.
But the poll shows that neither of the Republicans - Sue Lowden, ex-chairman of the Nevada Republican Party, and businessman Danny Tarkanian - gained any ground in the new survey, highlighting the fact that the race continues to be a referendum on Reid rather than an outpouring of support for either of the top GOP hopefuls.
"Reid's difficulties stem directly from the fact that he is the Majority Leader of the United States Senate," according to Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports. "His responsibilities as leader of the Senate Democrats have placed him in a very visible position promoting an agenda that is viewed with some skepticism by Nevada voters."
Some have speculated that Reid like other longtime Senate incumbents Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota may ultimately decide to retire rather than face an increasingly hostile electorate.
Seventy-nine percent (79%) of Nevada voters say they have followed news reports about Reid's comments about Obama, including 55% who have followed very closely. But his bigger problem appears to be his championing of a health care plan that remains unpopular in his home state.
Reid is out front pushing the national health care plan crafted by President Obama and congressional Democrats, but just 39% of Nevada voters support that plan. Fifty-four percent (54%) oppose it. Those numbers include just 21% who Strongly Favor it while more than twice as many, 45%, Strongly Oppose the plan. These numbers are comparable to the overall feelings about the health care plan nationwide .
Among those who Strongly Oppose the plan, anywhere from 80% to 89% support any of the Republican candidates who oppose Reid. The incumbent earns slightly less support from the smaller group that Strongly Favor the plan.
In a match-up with Reid, the GOP's Lowden now earns 48% of the vote while Tarkanian picks up 50% of the Nevada vote against Reid. . In December, both had 49% support.
In both races, the number of those who prefer some other candidate and are undecided remain in single digits.
In September , Lowden led Reid by 10 percentage points, 50% to 40%, while Tarkanian bested him 50% to 43%.
A third Republican contender, former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, now beats Reid 44% to 40%, with 10% opting for another candidate and seven percent (7%) undecided. In the previous survey, Angle bested Reid 47% to 43% in December, while seven percent (7%) liked another candidate and three percent (3%) weren't sure.
Men continue to overwhelmingly prefer any of the Republican candidates to Reid, while women are almost evenly divided.
Those who have a very unfavorable opinion of Reid now outnumber those with a very favorable view of the longtime senator by two-to-one - 47% to 23%. This marks virtually no change from December.
Lowden is viewed very favorably by eight percent (8%) and very unfavorably by nine percent (9%). For Tarkanian, very favorables add up to 20% percent and very unfavorables 10%. Seven percent (7%) have a very favorable view of Angle, while 13% regard her very unfavorably.
At this point in a campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the number of people with a strong opinion more significant than the total favorable/unfavorable numbers.
In common with voters around the country, most Nevada voters (54%) say cost is the biggest problem with health care. Eighteen percent (18%) say the quality of care is the bigger problem, while 15% list the lack of universal coverage. For three percent (3%), it's the inconvenience of scheduling.
Fifty-eight percent (58%) in Nevada oppose the creation of a single-payer health care system , comparable to views nationally. Fifty-two percent (52%) believe states should have the right to opt out if a national health care plan is passed, but 34% disagree. This is slightly higher support for opting out than is found nationally.
Thirty-seven percent (37%) of Nevada voters say the United States and its allies are winning the war on terror, but 36% believe the terrorists are winning. Twenty-one percent (21%) say it's a draw. This is a slightly more pessimistic view than is found nationally.
Forty percent (40%) rate the president's handling of the situation in Afghanistan as good or excellent, while 29% say he is doing a poor job. Forty-two percent (42%) expect the situation there to worsen in the next six months. Twenty-two percent (22%) say it will get better, and 26% think the situation will stay the same. These findings mirror national attitudes on these questions.
Forty-one percent (41%) believe the U.S. legal system worries too much about protecting individual rights in cases involving national security. Eighteen percent (18%) say the system worries too much about protecting national security, and 31% say the balance is about right. This is comparable to national views on this question.
Obama carried Nevada over John McCain with 55% of the vote in November 2008, but just 49% of voters in the state now approve of the president's job performance, including 29% who strongly approve. This is roughly comparable to Obama's national job approval ratings in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll .
Only 35% approve of Republican Governor Jim Gibbons' performance, while 63% disapprove. This is little changed from December.
Rasmussen Reports has released Senate polls for Arkansas , Colorado , Illinois , Connecticut , Missouri , North Dakota , Pennsylvania , Ohio , Florida , California and the special election in Massachusetts . Collectively, these polls define a difficult political environment for Democrats as 2010 begins.
New data also has been released on the 2010 governor's races in Arizona , California , Colorado , Florida , Massachusetts , Michigan , Minnesota , New York , Ohio , Pennsylvania , South Carolina and Texas .