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Rhode Island Senate: Chafee Now Lagging by 8
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With Election Day on the horizon Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee remains highly vulnerable. Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse leads the incumbent 50% to 42% (see crosstabs). In our last poll, conducted October 10, Whitehouse got the better of him 49% to 39%.

The race remains in the "Leans Democrat" column in our Senate Balance of Power summary.

With "leaners" added, Whitehouse now tops 50%, leading Chafee 52% to 44%. (Leaners are undecided voters willing to pick a candidate when asked a follow-up question.) Forty-two percent (42%) of all voters are certain they'll vote for Whitehouse, only 36% are firmly committed to Chafee.

Whitehouse has led every Rasmussen Reports survey since July.

Chafee's party-crossing high-wire act is being hit by a lot of wind gusts. It's a bad year for the GOP, and Rhode Island leans Democratic anyway. Compounding his problems, the Senator was obliged to endure a bruising primary battle before finally becoming the nominee in mid-September.

Many Republicans and conservatives think Chafee is too liberal; he wins only 74% of the GOP base and just 61% of conservatives. Many others think he's too Republican; moderates prefer Whitehouse 55% to 39%.

Even so, the incumbent remains fairly well liked as a person, with 60% viewing him favorably. However, just 25% have a "very favorable" opinion of the incumbent while 23% have a “very unfavorable” opinion.

Less than a third of Rhode Islanders (27%) now believe the U.S. and its allies are winning the war on terror. A plurality of 39% percent say the terrorists are winning. Nationally, only 31% believe we're winning, a number that was as high as 50% late last year. (See our War on Terror update)

Crosstabs are available for Premium Members only.

Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

The Rasmussen Reports Election Edge™ Premium Service offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage available anywhere.

Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.

Survey of 500 Likely Voters
October 19, 2006

Election 2006:

Rhode Island Senate

Sheldon Whitehouse (D)

50%

Lincoln Chafee (R)

42%

Election 2006: RI Senate
Three-Poll Rolling Average

Surveys

Whitehouse

Chafee

Sep 13-
Oct 4-Oct 19

50%

41%

Aug 23-Sep-Oct

48%

41%

Aug 3-

Aug 23-Sep

46%

41%

Jul-Aug 3-Aug 23

45%

40%

Jun-Jul-

Aug 3

44%

41%

Apr-Jun-Jul

43%

43%

Jan-Apr-Jun

40%

46%

Election 2006:

Rhode Island Senate

Date

Whitehouse

Chafee

Oct 19

50%

42%

Oct 4

49%

39%

Sep 13

51%

43%

Aug 23

44%

42%

Aug 3

44%

38%

Jul 11

46%

41%

Jun 5

42%

44%

Apr 26

41%

44%

Jan 24

38%

50%

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