County Attorney Amy Klobuchar has jumped to a 17-point lead over Republican Mark Kennedy in Minnesota's Senate race. The latest Rasmussen Reports election survey shows Klobuchar leading Kennedy 53% to 36% (see crosstabs). Her lead was seven points last month.

The current results represent Klobuchar's best performance to date and Kennedy's worst. Her biggest lead before this survey was 12 points in early August.

Rasmussen Reports is shifting this Senate race from “Leans Democrat” to “Democrat” in our Senate Balance of Power summary.

Forty-three percent (43%) of voters are "certain" they'll vote for Klobuchar. Another (11%) say they will vote for her but acknowledge the possibility that they might change their mind while 3% are not sure but leaning towards voting for her.

For Kennedy, 28% of voters are "certain" to vote for him, 8% are not certain and 4% are leaning toward voting for him.

Klobuchar's "very favorable" score continues to climb-36% of voters now rate her that highly. By contrast, 33% of voters feel very unfavorably about Kennedy.

Independent candidate Robert Fitzgerald currently earns 6% of the vote; 43% of voters say they still don't know enough about him to have an opinion about him.

Ninety-three percent (93%) of respondents rate national security issues important-71% say they're "very important." Domestic issues, including education, health care and social security, are considered important by 95% and very important by 68%.

Forty-four percent (44%) believe American troops should be brought home from Iraq within the year, 36% disagree and 20% aren't sure.

A majority of voters say they would not vote for candidates who would change
social security (59%) or raise taxes (53%.)

When asked which party they would support if their vote determined control of the Senate, 52% would vote for the Democratic party and 38% would vote for the Republicans. Ten percent (10%) are undecided.

Crosstabs are available for Premium Members only.