Republican Sen. Dean Heller, who took the place of former Sen. John Ensign when he resigned, and Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley are all square in new poll of the Nevada Senate race from Public Policy Polling (D). Both candidates have 46 percent, as Berkley has improved her standing over the last few months but has a ways to go with independent voters in the state.
From PPP:
“Three months ago, voters were split evenly on Berkley personally. A third saw her
favorably, another third unfavorably, and the rest were not sure. She has upped her name recognition and positive rating since then, now at a 38-35 spread, similar to Heller’s 39-35 approval margin, which is almost unchanged from 38-35. Strangely, Heller has improved with Democrats, 21% of whom now approve of his performance, but declined with his own party and with independents. Still, independents like Heller far more than Berkley. Unusually for politicians in this climate, both have more enthusiastic bases than antagonistic opposition.
‘This seems like one of those races that will basically be tied for the whole next year,’ said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. ‘The candidates have pretty much identical approval/favorability numbers, and they both hold their bases while splitting independents almost right down the middle. It would be hard for this contest to be any more evenly matched at this point in time.’”
