Republican Senator Conrad Burns has lost a double-digit lead against the two Democrats most prominently vying for the right to square off against him in November.

Senator Burns now wins 46% of the vote when pitted against State Auditor John Morrison; Morrison wins 43%. Against State Senate President John Tester, Burns gets 45%, Tester 45%.

Our poll last September showed Burns enjoying 51% support from Montana voters when matched up with either man. Only 39% would have voted for Morrison, 38% for Tester.

At that time, 55% viewed the incumbent favorably. In our new survey of 500 Likely Voters, Senator Burns is still viewed favorably by 55%, but is now viewed unfavorably by 43%, up from 37%.

The re-election effort is apparently suffering from lobbyist Jack Abramoff's guilty plea and widely publicized agreement—after having been investigated for months for illegally influencing lawmakers and other crimes—to cooperate in the investigation of congressmen who may also have broken the law. The Senator recently returned $150,000 in contributions from Abramoff, and has had to deny rumors he might end his bid for a fourth term.

Crosstabs are available for Premium Members. See results by Party, Ideology, Gender, how closely people have followed the Abramoff story, and more.

Forty-eight percent (48%) of likely voters believe Senator Burns is about as ethical as other politicians; 30% say he's less ethical; 18% say he's more ethical.

Sixty-five percent (65%) say the Abramoff story will be of some importance in how they vote in the general election. Only 27% downplay the importance of the scandal, and, of these, just 4% say it will not matter to them all.

Most, 75%, approve of the job Brian Schweitzer is doing as Governor. Schweitzer is the man Burns narrowly defeated in his 2000 re-election bid. Fifty-four percent (54%) approve of the job President Bush is doing.

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.

Crosstabs for the Montana survey are available for Premium Members. See results by Party, Ideology, Gender, how closely people have followed the Abramoff story, and more.