After both candidates easily won their August 15 primaries, Republican Senator John Ensign now leads Democrat Jack Carter 50% to 41% in Nevada's competitive race for U.S. Senate (see crosstabs).

In late July, the Rasmussen Reports election poll showed Carter, son of the former President, lagging just seven points behind the incumbent.

A plurality of all voters view Senator Ensign as politically conservative and Jack Carter as liberal.

This race remains in the Republican column for our Senate Balance of Power summary.

Early in the year Carter had trailed by almost twenty points, and was unknown to about a third of voters. Today only 11% are still "not sure" what to think of him. But his favorables, though stronger now, are not as strong as the incumbent's. And in just the past month the proportion who view Carter negatively has increased by eight points.

Carter has a famous name but his father never won Nevada's electoral votes.

Ensign attracts stronger support from Republicans (79%) than Carter does from Democrats (70%). But the two are even among unaffiliated voters, and Carter wins more moderates. Unaffiliated and moderate voters tend to trust Democrats more than President Bush on both national security and economic issues. Among all voters, trust is divided more evenly.

In the Governor's race, where the nominees won their primaries more narrowly, Republican U.S. Representative Jim Gibbons now leads Democratic Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus 49% to 35%. In July Gibbons led 46% to 37%.

Republican Governor Kenny Guinn is prevented from seeking reelection by term limits.

Crosstabs are available for Premium Members only.