In the run-up to November 7, Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is maintaining a considerable advantage over Democrat Barbara Ann Radnofsky. With only 4% undecided, she now leads 60% to 34% (see crosstabs).

Radnofsky, viewed favorably by 47%, is called a good candidate even by newspapers endorsing the incumbent. But in an election year that has many GOP candidates scrambling, Hutchison enjoys broad appeal. She is viewed favorably by 68% of all voters, including 45% of Democrats.

That's despite Senator Hutchison's admission in a televised debate, pounced on by some critics, that she would not have voted for the invasion of Iraq had better intelligence about Iraq's WMD programs been available at the time. She has also said that partition of Iraq should be considered as a way out of the current morass.

The Senator enjoyed 65% support in January, a level that receded a bit as the campaign progressed. But even in May, with her support at its lowest level all year (53%), she led her Democratic opponent by nineteen percentage points.

Radnofsky has yet to attract 35% of likely voters. And she's still an unknown to 24%, reflecting the reluctance of voters happy with the incumbent to expend much effort investigating the challenger.

The Foley scandal has some traction with Democrats here, 60% of whom say it is at least somewhat important to how they'll vote.

By contrast, 80% of all voters say the issue North Korea is an important influence on their vote, and 45% say it's "very important."

Most say the Bush Administration's response to North Korea's recent nuclear test is at least "fair," and 48% say it's good (27%) or excellent (21%). Republicans are much more likely than Democrats and unaffiliated voters to give the President high marks on the issue.

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