The latest Rasmussen Reports election survey shows U.S. Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. closing in on Bob Corker in what has become one of the country’s marquee Senate races. Ford now trails Corker by a single point, 44% to 45% (see crosstabs). Last month’s poll showed him down by six; he trailed by 12 in July.

Throughout Election 2006, Democrats have felt competitive in five races featuring incumbent Republicans—Pennsylvania, Montana, Rhode Island, Missouri, and Ohio. However, they need a net gain of six seats to take control of the Senate. Tennessee may now be on the radar screen as the potential sixth seat.

In fact, Rasmussen Reports has now shifted this race from “Leans Republican” to “Toss Up” in the Senate Balance of Power summary. With this shift, the number of seats in the GOP column, including leaners, falls to 49. Democrats are favored to capture 45 seats, with six in the Toss-Up category.

The new numbers show Ford faring better with his base than Corker. The Democrat earns support from 84% of Democrats versus 77% of Republicans who say they’ll support Corker.

With the candidates more than a month removed from their respective primary races they can now focus their time—and dollars—on an official head-to-head match up.

Twenty five percent (25%) of Tennessee voters have a “very favorable” opinion of Ford, up a point from August. Nineteen percent (19%) hold a very unfavorable opinion.

Twenty-two percent (22%) say they have a very favorable opinion of Corker, which represents no change from the previous poll. Corker, however, has seen an increase in the number of voters with a very unfavorable opinion of him. That figure is up to 15% from 10% a month ago.

An interesting pattern emerges when voters are asked to score the candidates’ political ideologies. A plurality of voters (42%) sees Ford as a liberal and Corker as a conservative (44%.)

“Moderate” is the second place category for both candidates—31% see Ford in that ideological light while 29% same the same of Corker.

In a race where every endorsement counts, Corker just earned a big one: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced their endorsement on September 6th. The candidate also earned another high profile nod in the form of a fundraising visit from President Bush at the end of August. The president’s visit generated $1.5 million for Corker’s campaign coffers.

When asked whom they trust more on matters relating to national security and Iraq, 50% of respondents say President Bush and 39% say Democrats in Congress. The responses are much closer when it comes to the economy—46% say they trust the president and 44% say Congressional Democrats.

Crosstabs are available for Premium Members only.