Republican Roy Blunt now holds a six-point lead over Democrat Robin Carnahan in Missouri’s race for the U.S. Senate.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in the state finds Blunt ahead of Carnahan 49% to 43%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and five percent (5%) are undecided.

The latest numbers mark a shift in Blunt’s favor from last month when Carnahan had a narrow 46% to 44% edge over her Republican rival. The candidates, both members of prominent Missouri political families, were tied at 46% apiece in September. As it has for other Democrats throughout the nation, the health care issue appears to be creating challenges for Carnahan. Just 37% of Missouri voters favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats, but 62% oppose it.

As it has for other Democrats throughout the nation, the health care issue appears to be creating challenges for Carnahan. Just 37% of Missouri voters favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats, but 62% oppose it.

As in most other states, stronger feelings are on the side of the opponents. In Missouri, 20% Strongly Favor the plan versus 50% who Strongly Oppose it. Carnahan captures 90% of the vote among those who Strongly Favor the plan, but 84% of the larger group that Strongly Opposes it are voting for Blunt.

Missouri attitudes towards the health care plan are similar to the national average. The health care issue played a key role in Tuesday’s stunning Massachusetts election.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

Political analyst Larry Sabato now rates the Missouri Senate race as a toss-up but, given the current political climate, says Blunt would be the winner if the election were held today. Sabato projects that if the election were held today, the Democratic majority in the Senate would be down to 52 seats.

Views of the economy are likely to spell trouble for Carnahan right now, too, with a Democrat in the White House and Democrats controlling both houses of Congress. Just seven percent (7%) of Missouri voters rate the economy as good or excellent, while 56% say it’s in poor shape. Twenty-six percent (26%) say the economy is getting better, but nearly twice as many (49%) think it’s getting worse. For 22%, it’s staying about the same.

Nationally, voters trust Republicans more than Democrats when it comes to the economy.

Fifteen percent (15%) of Missouri voters have a very favorable opinion of Blunt, a congressman since 1997 who at one time held the number two GOP position in the House. The same number (15%) view him very unfavorably. Blunt’s son was governor of Missouri from 2005 to 2009.

Twenty-three percent (23%) have a very favorable view of Carnahan, who currently serves as Missouri’s secretary of state, and 24% regard her very unfavorably. She is the daughter of an ex-senator and a former governor.

At this point in a campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the number of people with strong opinions more significant than the total favorable/unfavorable numbers.

The candidates are vying for the seat currently held by retiring Republican Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond.

In the wake of the Christmas Day terrorist attempt to blow up a U.S. airliner, 72% of voters in Missouri believe it is at least somewhat likely there will be another terrorist attack in the Untied States in the next year. That number includes 32% who say it’s very likely. But Missourians are narrowly divided over whether America is safer today than it was before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks: 41% say yes, 38% say no.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) say the government has done a good or excellent job responding to the attempted airliner bombing, but 32% view the response as poor. Seventy percent (70%) say the Christmas Day incident should be investigated by military authorities as a terrorist act, while 17% think it should be investigated by civilian authorities as a criminal act.

Seventy-seven percent (77%) in Missouri favor the use of full-body scanners at airport security checkpoints.

Forty-one percent (41%) of Missouri voters now approve of the job Obama is doing as president, while 58% disapprove. Those findings include 27% who Strongly Approve of the president’s job performance and 46% who Strongly Disapprove. This is a slightly higher level of disapproval than is found nationally in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

However, 61% approve of Democratic Governor Jay Nixon’s handling of his job, including 17% who Strongly Approve. Thirty-four percent (34%) disapprove of Nixon’s job performance, with 11% who Strongly Disapprove. This marks little change from December.

In 2008, Rasmussen Reports projected nationally that Obama would defeat John McCain by a 52% to 46% margin. Obama won 53% to 46%. Four years earlier, Rasmussen Reports projected the national vote totals for both George W. Bush and John Kerry within half-a-percentage-point.

In Missouri, Rasmussen Reports polled on two races during the 2008 campaign. In the race for president, Rasmussen polling showed McCain and Obama tied at 49% each. McCain ended up edging out Obama 50% to 49%. In the 2008 Missouri governor’s race, Rasmussen polling showed Nixon defeating Kenny Hulshof 57% to 38% and Nixon won 58% to 40%.

In the 2006 race for U.S. Senate, Rasmussen polling showed a toss-up with Jim Talent at 49% and Claire McCaskill at 48%. McCaskill won 49% to 47%. In the 2004 Presidential race, Rasmussen polling in Missouri showed George W. Bush defeating John Kerry 50% to 45%. Bush won the state 53% to 46%.

See all Rasmussen Reports 2008 state results for president, Senate and governor. See 2006 results for Senate and governor. See 2004 state results for president.

Rasmussen Reports just released the latest numbers from Pennsylvania’s Democratic Senate Primary. Incumbent Senator Arlen Specter now leads his primary challenger Congressman Joe Sestak by 21 points.

New data also has been released on Senate races in Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada, Illinois, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Florida, and California

Election night polling also been released from Tuesday's special Senate election in Massachusetts.

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free) or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available to Premium Members only.