Adding eight percentage points to an already overpowering lead, Democratic Governor Bredesen now buries Republican State Senator Jim Bryson 63% to 28% (see crosstabs).

Our early September poll of the race showed Bredesen leading 58% to 31% in his toboggan-slide reelection bid. Even GOP voters and conservatives give him almost as much support as they give Bryson.

State Senator Bryson has been saying optimistic things about his prospects, in mid-September telling reporters that he's accomplished a lot organizationally and stressing that the bulk of his campaign, including TV advertising, is "still ahead."

"It's a tough race," Bryson more recently suggested, "but we've got a real shot at winning." It's hard to see what the optimism is based on, however. The real nail-biter of a statewide race in Tennessee is for U.S. Senate.

Governor Bredesen is viewed favorably by a prohibitive 71% of all voters, "very favorably" by 34%. Only 7% have a "very unfavorable" view. His job approval numbers are comparable.

Bryson is viewed favorably by 43%, with 14% very favorable. Sixteen percent (16%) are "very unfavorable" and a fifth aren't ready to voice an opinion of him. Last month's Rasmussen Reports election poll indicated that a plurality of voters don't know here Bryson stands ideologically (while most regard Bredesen as moderate).

With little more than a month to Election Day, that's a very weak position for a challenger to be in.

At 47%, President Bush's job approval rating in the state is actually several points higher than it is nationally. Thirty percent (30%) strongly approve of the job he's doing, 39% strongly disapprove. It's unlikely that any changes in how Tennessee voters regard the President's performance will have more than a very marginal impact on the gubernatorial race between now and November 7.

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