The new Rasmussen poll today has Sharron Angle beating Harry Reid by four points, 50-46 percent, with a margin of error of +/- four percent. Two percent said they prefer “some other candidate” and two percent were undecided. However, the survey did not specifically offer respondents the “None of these candidates” choice that will appear on Nevada’s ballot.
Just over a week ago, Rasmussen had the race virtually tied, with Reid up over Angle 48-47 percent.
A recent CNN/Time/Research Opinion Corporation poll ran a three-way match-up that included Nevada’s none-of-the-above option. The results showed Angle winning by two point margin, well within the poll’s 3.5 percent margin of error:
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Angle earned 42 percent
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Reid had 40 percent
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“Tea Party of Nevada” candidate Scott Ashjian won 7 percent
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Ten percent chose none-of-the-above
In the head-to-head match-up also tested by CNN, Angle earned 47 percent and Reid 45 percent while “none-of-the-above” dropped to 7 percent.
The CNN poll was called into question in part because it surveyed no one under the age of 35, and also polled more independents than Republicans or Democrats. This is key to evaluating the survey’s results because Nevada’s independent voters are more likely to vote for a third party candidate or “none” than members of either major party.
Every recent public poll, though, regardless of sample or match-up, has Angle and Reid polling inside the margin of error.