In our latest survey of the suspenseful race for the U.S. Senate in Missouri, Democratic State Auditor Claire McCaskill now nominally leads Republican Senator Jim Talent, the first-term incumbent, by 42% to 41%.

That's a distinction without a difference, however, in a survey with a 4.5 percentage point margin of sampling error. Our three-poll rolling average shows a tie of 42% to 42%, confirming the competitive nature of the contest.

A month ago, our Missouri election poll showed McCaskill at 43% and Talent at 40%.

Talent may be weakened by disarray among Republicans, and he has also had to deal with the issue of stem-cell research. That issue is a hot potato in Missouri thanks to an initiative on the ballot this November that would ban the state from further restricting stem-cell research. The Senator has withdrawn his support for a bill that would ban all forms of human cloning.

With debate raging about illegal immigration, 61% of Missouri voters say they favor a general policy goal of welcoming all immigrants except for national security threats, criminals, and those who would live off our welfare system.

Most likely voters in Missouri also support the idea enforcing existing laws and controlling our borders borders before considering further reform. Only 38% agree that all illegal aliens in the country should be forcibly deported.

Slightly more than half agree that a child of illegal aliens born in this country should not automatically become a U.S. citizen.

As April 15 looms, a majority in Missouri believe tax increases hurt the economy, and that tax cuts help it. Sixty percent (60%) hire a professional to prepare their taxes; 28% shoulder the burden themselves. Forty-four (44%) expect to file their taxes electronically. A plurality agree that doing taxes is worse than sitting in the dentist's chair (a tough call, perhaps).

Democrats give McCaskill 84% support, a bit more than Talent gets from Republicans, 79%. Those unaffiliated with either major party favor Talent somewhat. But moderates prefer McCaskill to Talent two-to-one, 51% to 25%.

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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.