Reid aide on Angle lead in new poll: No big deal

Jon Summers, a top aide on Sen. Harry Reid's re-election campaign, dismissed the poll released earlier today by the Rasmussen organization. It showed Reid trailing Republican challenger Sharron Angle, 48 percent to 41 percent.

"While public polling at this point in the campaign – especially from this particular source – should be taken with a grain of salt, we’ve always maintained that the choice in November will become clearer as Nevadans compare Senator Reid’s track record.... with Sharron Angle's dangerous plans," Summers said.

Summers in turn pointed to a national NBC/Wall Street Journal poll out today he maintained shows "an overwhelming majority of voters are deeply uncomfortable with a number of major platforms central to Angle's campaign."

Among a large number of other questions, the wide-ranging poll asked how voters feel about a candidate who favors "phasing out Social Security" (24 percent enthusiastic or comfortable vs. 66 percent uncomfortable or with reservations.)

On whether the Department of Education and other federal agencies should be abolished, responses were 24 percent enthusiastic or comfortable against 67 percent uncomfortable or having reservations.

The campaign issue that got the largest percentage of support? With 69 percent favorable, it was "cutting federal spending," which Republicans have been trying to associate themselves with during this election cycle.

The findings on campaign issues can be found on pages 17 and 18 of the polling data.