CO-Sen, ID-Sen: Udall With Big Lead, Risch With Huge Lead

Harstad Strategic Research for Mark Udall (9/7-9, likely voters):

Mark Udall (D): 45

Bob Schaffer (R): 34

Bob Kinsey (G): 2

Doug Campbell (C): 3

(MoE: ±3.6%)

In response to the NRSC’s internal from last week showing a one-point race for the open Senate seat in Colorado, the Udall camp releases their own internal showing an 11-point gap at the height of the GOP post-convention bounce. This poll is of mild interest in that it’s the first poll I can think of that has polled the effect of third-party candidates on the race (the Green and the Constitution Party guy seem to cancel each other out).

Rasmussen (9/9, likely voters):

Larry LaRocco (D): 30

Jim Risch (R): 58

(MoE: ±4.0%)

In other news from the Mountain West, Jim Risch has a big lead on Larry LaRocco in Rasmussen’s first poll of the open Senate seat race in Idaho. This poll is missing one key element, though: self-funding independent Rex Rammell, who’s charging hard at Risch’s right flank. If this is really where the race is, though, it doesn’t look like the Rammell effect will have much impact on the bottom line.

It may be worth noting that the uncharismatic and campaigning-averse Risch inspires a large degree of “meh” among the sample: he has a 62% favorable rating, but 41% of that is only “somewhat favorable.”