The latest Rasmussen Reports election poll of the race for U.S. Senate in Rhode Island shows Senator Lincoln Chafee (R) still neck-and-neck with former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse (D), nominally besting him 44% to 42%. In late April, Chafee could boast a mere three-point edge.

Chafee faces primary opposition from Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey. If Laffey should secure the GOP nomination, he would be unlikely to do as well in November, as he now trails Whitehouse by 35 points (60% to 25%).

The unusual nature of Chafee’s bid for re-election is highlighted by his favorability ratings. The Senator is viewed favorably by 59% of all voters, not too bad for an incumbent. However, the Republican incumbent does a bit worse among his own party than among Democrats. Chafee earns favorables of just 55% from the GOP faithful. His ratings are eight points higher among Democrats.

Whitehouse is viewed favorably by 62% of Rhode Island voters, Laffey by 37%.

In the general election match-ups, Chafee does better with Republicans than Laffey, but not by much. The incumbent gets 65% of the Republican vote when matched against Whitehouse, while the Democrat lures 28%. In the Laffey-Whitehouse match-up, Laffey gets 56% of GOP support and Whitehouse gets 37%.

On the other hand, Chafee enjoys considerable support from Democrats, 35% versus Whitehouse's 60%; and from unaffiliated voters, 42% versus Whitehouse's 37%. Chafee also attracts a lot of support from liberals and especially moderates. Laffey's numbers are much lower in all these groups.

When asked which party they trust more on major issues, Rhode Islanders usually prefer the Democrats by huge margins, unsurprising giving the heavily Democratic tilt of the state. On the economy 57% say they trust the Democrats more, 31% say the Republicans. On nationally security, 56% go with the Democrats; on energy policy, 64%; on Iraq, 60%.

On immigration, the split is 44% Democrats, 35% Republicans, with 21% Not Sure. Immigration is an issue on which, nationally, neither party has gained a persistent edge in credibility with the voters.

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