Incumbent Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell now leads Republican challenger Mike McGavick 52% to 35% (see crosstabs). She led by six in the previous poll.

The current survey is the first conducted since McGavick’s admission of a drunk driving incident earlier in his life.

These results mark the first time since February that Cantwell has reached the 50% level of voter support. Rasmussen Reports is now shifting this race from “Leans Democrat” to “Democrat” in our Senate Balance of Power ratings.

Following news of the arrest, 45% of voters have a favorable opinion of McGavick. That’s down from 49% in our earlier survey. Fifteen percent (15%) of respondents now say they have a “very favorable” opinion of the candidate and 21% have a “very unfavorable” opinion. Those numbers also represent a decline from the previous survey. In August, the numbers were 18% very favorable and 14% very unfavorable.

Twenty-six percent (26%) report having a “very favorable” opinion of Cantwell, up from 23% last month, and 17% have a “very unfavorable” opinion, a four-point improvement.

Sixty-five percent (65%) of those surveyed believe that Cantwell will win her seat for another term. One-quarter of respondents (25%) believe McGavick will win.

Though his numbers have taken a hit, the majority of voters (56%) say the drunk driving incident is not important to the campaign. Forty-one percent (41%) disagree. Fifteen percent (15%) say it is “very important” and 18% say it is “not at all important.”

Twenty-four percent (24%) report following McGavick’s recent news “very closely” versus 9% who haven’t followed the story at all. When asked if they know why he is in the news, 60% of respondents can correctly identify drunk driving as the reason. That suggests a very high level of awareness for this particular issue.

Late last month, McGavick disclosed his 1993 arrest for a DUI incident in Maryland. McGavick was pulled over for running a red light and claimed to have had “two, maybe three beers.” He failed the roadside sobriety tests and his blood alcohol content measured 0.17, well above the state’s then-legal limit of 0.10. McGavick was charged, but served no jail time. Rather, he paid a fine, participated in alcohol awareness classes and served a year’s probation.

However, Washington’s voters may be a forgiving group: 48% believe McGavick’s apology is sincere; 56% believe that everyone has similar embarrassing incidents in their past; and 58% say Cantwell is likely to be among that group.

The incumbent’s personal ethics have been called into question of late due to disclosure of a personal loan she made in 1999 to Ron Dotzauer, a former Cantwell campaign manager who registered as a federal lobbyist in 2002. Financial disclosure records put the value of the loan, which has yet to be repaid, at $15,000-$50,000.

Crosstabs are available for Premium Members only.