Survey Shows Talent With Edge Over Carnahan

A new statewide survey indicates Senator Carnahan has lost a lot of male support and opponent Jim Talent has picked it up. The latest poll run for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and television station KMOV shows Talent edging ahead of Carnahan, 47% to 46%, among responding voters. Zogby International has run the poll, which asks which way voters would lean if the election were held now. It’s a big improvement for Talent, the Republican who is challenging Carnahan, an incumbent Democrat. Zogby’s April poll showed Carnahan up 50% to 44%. The poll has a margin of error of 3 1/2% and pollsters say that makes the race a dead heat. The poll also asked about what issues concern voters. Between 70% and 80% of those responding say the economy, national security and health care are their top priorities. Between 60% and 70% say pension security, Social Security, prescription drug costs and foreign policy come next. Experience, abortion and environmental issues are seen as less important.