A new Rasmussen poll of 500 likely voters conducted February 16th finds 1-term Republican incumbent Senator Norm Coleman in a dead heat with both Al Franken and Mike Ciresi in the Gopher State.

Franken leads Coleman 49 to 46 percent, within the poll’s margin of error. This is the first Rasmussen poll and only the second public poll overall conducted during the battle for Minnesota’s Senate seat that has measured Franken’s statewide support ahead of the GOP Senator.

Coleman retains a moderately high favorability rating in the state (55 percent), while Franken reached the 50 percent favorability mark for the first time in four Rasmussen polls (39 percent in March 2007, 46 percent in September 2007, 43 percent in October 2007). Coleman led Franken by 10 points last March, by 5 points last September, and by 7 points last October, according to Rasmussen.

DFL candidate Mike Ciresi is also matching Coleman blow-for-blow, trailing by just two points, 47 to 45 percent, also within the poll’s margin of error. Ciresi’s main competition now, however, is Franken in the fight for the DFL nomination. This marks the highest level of support Ciresi has received in a matchup poll with Coleman in 10 public polls released since February 2007.

Posted in Minnesota, MN US Senate, National Politics, U.S. Senate

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