Las Vegas Review-Journal - The Political Eye

New poll results from Rasmussen show 52 percent of likely voters prefer Republican Brian Sandoval for Nevada governor compared to 36 percent who chose Democrat Rory Reid.

The results are similar to a poll last week from Mason-Dixon Polling & Research that also showed Sandoval with a 52-36 advantage.

The 16 percentage-point margin in the new Rasmussen poll is greater than the 10-point margin Rasmussen showed last month.

In addition to the head-to-head match, Rasmussen also asked voters which way they were leaning. The so-called "leaners," according to Rasmussen, gain significance as the election nears.

When leaners are included, Sandoval is the choice of 55 percent of respondents and Reid 40 percent.

Although Sandoval has an early advantage in opinion polls, Reid, the son of Senate majority leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has a big fundraising advantage and has been using the cash lead to slam Sandoval in television and Internet ads.

Lately Reid's attack have been accusing Sandoval of dodging chances for the candidates to debate. An e-mail from the Reid campaign Thursday morning chided the Republican for avoiding a chance to address the Nevada Insurance Council meeting at the Atlantis Resort and Spa in Reno on Friday. Reid is scheduled to address the group.

The last time both candidates showed up at the same forum was last week in Las Vegas at a luncheon for the Nevada Subcontractors Association. There Reid goaded Sandoval into an impromptu debate that covered three questions from audience members.

A formal debate on the subject of education is scheduled Aug. 29 in Las Vegas and will be broadcast live on statewide television.