Republican Mark Kirk is locked in a tight race for the Illinois Senate seat once occupied by President Obama. That’s according to a new poll from Rasmussen today showing Kirk leading Democratic nominee Alexi Giannoulias 41-37. Green party nominee LeAlan Jones draws 9% in the poll. There is no past Rasmussen poll of the three-way race for direct comparison.
The TPM Poll Average for the Giannoulias-Kirk matchup shows the Republican ahead 41.3-40.0. Past polling with Jones included has shown the Green party candidate drawing about 10% of the vote. Most observers say that takes away from potential Giannoulias support.
The Rasmussen survey of 750 likely voters in Illinois was conducted Sept. 7. The poll has a margin of error of 4.0%.