Republican Senator George Allen

Republican Senator George Allen now leads Democrat James Webb by just three percentage points—47% to 44% (see crosstabs). In early October his margin was six points.

The Senator's current lead is 49% to 46% if undecided voters leaning toward a candidate are included. More respondents are “certain” they will vote for Allen come Election Day (36%) than are sure about Webb (32%).

This is the fourth consecutive survey showing increased voter support for Webb. Only once in those surveys has Allen reached 50%.

Rasmussen Reports is therefore moving the race from "Leans Republican" to "Toss-Up" status in our Senate Balance of Power summary. Virginia joins Tennessee, New Jersey, and Missouri in the Toss-Up category.

Webb's chances improved thanks largely to a single racially-charged gaffe by Senator Allen. Senator Allen had led by double digits in the months preceding the furor. Once a Webb win grew more plausible, his campaign had an easier time raising money.

Webb has also had to fend off various personal controversies, including about views he once published on whether women are fit to command men in battle. But the assault on him hasn't had the same traction.

The candidates recently participated in their third and final debate.

The Iraq war and taxes topped the agenda.

Overall favorables are 54% for each candidate. Allen is viewed "very favorably" by 28% (a four-point decline since the last poll). He is viewed "very unfavorably" by 22%. For Webb these numbers are now 18% and 14%.

Four fifths of Allen supporters say their vote is "for Allen" (81%) rather than "against Webb" (13%). By contrast, 43% of Webb supporters say their vote is "against Allen."

Forty-four percent (44%) think Republican leaders have handled Foley situation poorly. But only 17% say the scandal is "very important" in determining how they will vote. When asked how Democratic leaders would have done if Foley was a Democrat, the answer is about the same. More precisely, Republicans overwhelmingly say that Democratic leaders would have been worse, Democrats say better, and a solid majority of those not affiliated with either major party say the response would have been about the same.

A plurality (44%) say it's "somewhat" or "very" common for members of Congress to have inappropriate relationships with their staff. Thirty-seven percent (37%) say such relationships are "not very" or "not at all" common.

Crosstabs are available for Premium Members only.

Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2006 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a mid-term election. We update the President's Job Approval Ratings daily and are polling competitive Senate and Governor's races at least once a month in 2006.

Rasmussen Reports was the nation's most accurate polling firm during the Presidential election and the only one to project both Bush and Kerry's vote total within half a percentage point of the actual outcome.

During Election 2004, RasmussenReports.com was also the top-ranked public opinion research site on the web. We had twice as many visitors as our nearest competitor and nearly as many as all competitors combined.

Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.