Democratic Senator Robert Byrd is coasting to a ninth term in office.

So far, Byrd is wiping the floor with each candidate vying for the Republican nomination. John Raese, the GOP establishment's fifth choice to run against Byrd, trails by 26 percentage points, 58% to 32%.

Byrd also leads Hiram Lewis 60% to 29% and Zane Lawhorn 61% to 28%.

The incumbent attracts support from at least a fourth of GOP voters in each match-up, and more than a third of conservatives.

Byrd maintains this lead even thought 35% of West Virginia voters believe he is too old to effectively serve in the U.S. Senate. Fifty-eight percent (58%) in the state disagree with that perspective.

Republicans had hoped Republican Representative Shelley Moore Capito, the lone Republican in West Virginia's congressional delegation, would run. Polling last year indicated she would prove a formidable contender. But she eventually bowed out.

Byrd is viewed favorably by 68% of West Virginians, including 38% of Republican voters. Overall, 44% view him "very favorably."

Thirty percent (30%) have an unfavorable opinion of the long-term incumbent.

The Republicans are viewed favorably by many fewer voters. Raese is viewed favorably by 36%, with 32% not sure what to think of him; Lewis is viewed favorably by 29%, with 35% not sure; Lawhorn is viewed favorably by 27%, with 41% not sure.

West Virginians tend to trust congressional Democrats more than President Bush on both the war in Iraq (46% versus 43% who trust the President more) and especially the economy (52% versus 40%).

Iraq and the economy tend to top the list of several issues voters were asked to rank in importance. When considering just those two issues, 47% say Iraq is the most important, 46% say the economy.

Visit our Election Polls page to see a summary of our latest state-by state polling. Rasmussen Reports is polling every Senate and Governors' race at least once a month this year.

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