GOP's Roy Blunt Posts Double-Digit Lead in Missouri Senate Race

Seven-term Republican Rep. Roy Blunt has opened up a double-digit lead for the first time in his race against Democrat Robin Carnahan for Missouri's Senate seat, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Aug. 23. The seat is being left open by GOP Sen. Kit Bond, who decided not to seek re-election.

Blunt leads Carnahan, the Secretary of State, by 51 percent to 40 percent with 5 percent preferring some other candidate and 4 percent undecided. The margin of error is 4 points.

Blunt's biggest margin over Carnahan in nine previous Rasmussen polls had been 8 points. In two of those polls (early June and mid-July), the pair had been within two points of each other.

When "leaners" are counted -- those voters who did not express an initial preference, but were pressed to make a choice -- Blunt's lead is 54 percent to 41 percent.

Blunt has the advantage of Carnahan when it comes to whether voters view them positively or not. Fifty-seven percent see Blunt favorably while 37 percent see him unfavorably, with 6 percent not sure. Fifty-three percent regard Carnahan unfavorably compared to 42 percent who see her favorably, with 4 percent not sure. Thirty-seven percent see her "very" unfavorably compared to 23 percent who feel the same way about Blunt.

Blunt leads among unaffiliated voters by 48 percent to 32 percent with the rest undecided or preferring another choice.

Carnahan may be paying a price for the current unpopular of President Obama in the state. Fifty-eight percent disapprove of the job he is doing.

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