New poll shows Reid still down, health care not helping

The latest poll on Nevada's 2010 Senate race suggests U.S. Sen. Harry Reid's push for health care reform is not helping him with voters back home.

A Rasmussen Reports poll released this morning showed support for Reid at 43 percent. He trails in individual matchups with GOP challengers Sue Lowden (49 percent), Danny Tarkanian (49 percent), and Sharron Angle (47 percent).

"The numbers in this month's poll suggest that the race at this point is a referendum on Reid," the polling service said.

Rasmussen noted each of the Republicans remains largely unknown, while Reid. the Senate majority leader, is known but generates a mixed reaction. Forty percent of voters had a favorable impression of him while his unfavorables were 57 percent. Rasmussen said it was notable that 49 percent said they were "very unfavorable" to Reid, suggesting a substantial hardcore opposition.

Lowden is a former state senator and former chairman of the state GOP. Angle is a former assemblywoman. Tarkanian is a businessman and son of famed UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian.

Reid's advocacy for President Barack Obama's health reform "appears to raise further red flags" for the incumbent, according to Rasmussen.

Nevadans appear to oppose the health legislation with more fervor than respondents in national polls, according to the numbers showing 49 percent of likely voters in the state strongly disapprove of the effort while 23 percent strong approve.

Some analysts have surmised that public opinion on health care reform could change if Congress is able to pass substantial legislation, giving Reid and other Democrats a chance to rebuild support before Election Day.

"A lot of polls will be taken over the next year, but the only one that really matters will be in November," Reid aide Jon Summers said in an e-mail. "Sen. Reid is focused on improving the lives of struggling Nevadans by creating jobs, lowering the cost of health care, and strengthening our economy."

Rasmussen polled 500 likely Nevada voters on Wednesday. The poll's error margin was 4.5 percent. Details of the poll and further analysis can be found here.