LAS VEGAS (AP) - Fifty-two percent of Nevadans had an unfavorable opinion of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and 33 percent had a favorable view, according to a statewide poll released Saturday.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal poll also found that Republican Sue Lowden had 50 percent to Reid's 40 percent, while Republican Danny Tarkanian had 49 percent to Reid's 41 percent.
Political analysts attributed the poll results to health care reform, the Nevada and national economy and an anti-incumbent mood.
"Is Harry in trouble? Certainly. Is he out of the game? No," said Mark Peplowski, a political science professor at the College of Southern Nevada. "I see it coming down to the fourth quarter. And everybody says the fourth quarter is where the best game is played."
The survey also showed a statistical dead heat between Lowden and Tarkanian in the Republican primary. Tarkanian, a businessman and son of former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, had 28 percent to 26 percent for Lowden, former state GOP chairwoman. Republican Sharron Angle, a former state lawmaker, had 13 percent in the primary.
She also had 45 percent to Reid's 40 percent.
"I am absolutely running for re-election," Reid said in a statement. "These are difficult times for Nevada and as the majority leader of the Senate I have been able to take action to address those challenges. But I know there is more work to do to turn our state's economy around and create jobs, and I am committed to seeing it through."
The telephone survey of 625 registered Nevada voters was conducted Jan. 5-7 by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Reid campaign manager Brandon Hall said internal polls show the four-term Nevada Democrat winning the general election, but he declined to elaborate.
"He's never backed down from a fight," Hall said. "We're not trying to win a beauty contest here."
Reid is expected to have a $25 million campaign war chest for the race.
Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker predicted the senator would have a tough time making a comeback come November.
"Now that he's taken over as Senate majority leader, he has to be the spokesman for the (Democratic) cause, and that's a little left of where Nevadans are," Coker said.
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Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com