Just as Nebraska's Republican Governor is popular with voters of all parties, so too is Democratic Senator Ben Nelson. Nelson attracts 41% of GOP voters in our latest poll of the Senate race, while Republican challenger Pete Ricketts lures just five percent more.

Among all voters, Nelson now leads Ricketts 55% to 32% (see crosstabs). This race remains solidly in the Democratic column for our Balance of Power ratings.

Given the state's Republican leanings, some pundits have been expecting Ricketts to sooner or later close the gap a bit and render the contest more competitive.

But just months before the election, the only cost Senator Nelson seems to be suffering for being a Democrat is that his hefty lead over Ricketts is thirty points lower than the Governor's lead over his own challenger.

Thus personal popularity seems to be trumping partisan loyalties in the state.

Ricketts, a former Ameritrade executive, has spent millions of his own money on the campaign, and succeeded in making himself known to voters. Right now, 45% view him favorably, 52% view him unfavorably. Twice as many (25%) view him "very" unfavorably as view him "very" favorably (12%). That doesn't give Ricketts a lot of wiggle room.

Meanwhile, 74% have a favorable view of Senator Nelson, a former Governor who served two terms before being narrowly elected to the Senate in 2000, then winning a second term with 73% of the vote.

More voters here (28%) name the economy as their top electoral issue than name any other of the six we listed. But national security (21%) and the war in Iraq (18%) are not far behind.

Nebraskans aren't too worried about whether their votes will be counted properly in November. Eighty-two percent (82%) express confidence that they will be.

Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.