Congressman Bernie Sanders, Vermont's only member in the U.S. House of Representatives, is off to a good-start in his bid to represent Vermont in the U.S. Senate. Sanders, an Independent who votes with the Democrats in Congress, is seeking to replace retiring Senator Jim Jeffords, also an an Independent who votes with Democrats.

Sanders attracts support from 70% of Vermont voters in Rasmussen Reports election polls against two potential Republican opponents. Richard Tarrant, wealthy founder of a Vermont software company, currently attracts just 25% of the statewide vote. His ability to self-finance is encouraging to GOP leaders, but Sanders will be tough to beat.

Greg Parke, a former Air Force officer, fares no worse than Tarrant at this time by attracting 24% of the vote.

Crosstabs available for Premium Members. Data on the state's race for Governor will be released Monday.

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.

Seventy-two percent (72%) of voters in Vermont say that Iraq is a more important issue than immigration. Just 19% say immigration is more important. That's a wildly different perspective than voters in southwestern states like Arizona and Nevada.

Vermont voters are evenly divided when asked whether a barrier should be built along the Mexican border.

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