Rhode Island Senate: Whitehouse (D) 51%; Chafee (R) 43%

[deadparrot]

The GOP establishment forcefully backed Republican Lincoln Chafee in the primary over a more conservative and arguably less-electable Republican. But, perhaps damaged by having to struggle so long for the nomination, it is not clear how electable Senator Chafee remains. The incumbent now lags his Democratic challenger 43% to 51%.

This is the fourth Rasmussen Reports election poll in row showing former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse with the lead-and the lead is growing. Our last pre-primary poll found the challenger clinging to a narrow two-point lead. Before that, Whitehouse led by six. In July he was ahead by five.

Rasmussen Reports is now shifting the Rhode Island Senate race from "Toss-Up" to "Leans Democrat" in our Senate Balance of Power Summary. We are also shifting Ohio and Montana from "Toss-Up" to "Leans Democrat."

Now that the Republican primary is over, Chafee enjoys support from 74% of Republican voters. That's up from 63% in the previous poll.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20060918/pl_rasmussen/rhodeislandsenate20060918

[BlueManDude]

1. There is no such thing as a moderate Republican.

[KingFlorez]

2. Pretty good news

Three races lean Democratic now, the candidates work is paying off and there is less than 2 months to go.

[AX10]

3. Republicans are all bad. Vote Whitehouse!

[Benhurst]

4. The old rule of thumb is an incumbent trailing and under 50 percent

is on his way out.

If only the people of Maine would wake up and get rid of "The Big O."

[jbonkowski]

5. I just don't know...

Do people who answer these polls intend to vote, and then don't? Are people being blocked from voting? Are the machines rigged?

There have been so many cases lately of someone being up by this amount, and then it doesn't work out that way in the end. Gore, Max Cleland, Kerry. I think Whitehouse has to poll a lot more than 51% to overcome the mysterious election day shift.

I wouldn't move something from "toss-up" to "leans Democrat" until our candidate hits 53-55%, or even more.

jim