The US Senate campaign of Portland attorney, Steve Novick, received a boost today, when Rasmussen reports released poll data that shows Novick faring better than Merkley in a head-to-head contest with Gordon Smith.

The Rasmussen report shows Merkley trailing Smith by a margin of 48-30, and Novick trailing Smith by a margin of 48-35.

Smith has a distinct advantage among unaffiliated voters in the Beaver State. The incumbent enjoys a seventeen-point lead over Merkley among voters not affiliated with either party and a nine-point lead over Novick.

As the incumbent, Smith is far better known than either of his challengers. Over half of voters (57%) view Smith favorably while 38% give him an unfavorable rating. Merkley is viewed favorably by 33% and unfavorably by 30%, while another 38% are not sure. Thirty-six percent (36%) give Novick a favorable rating, 26% give him an unfavorable rating, and 37% are not sure.

When it comes to the upcoming election, the economy is the most important issue for 28% of Oregon voters, with the War in Iraq coming in close behind at 24%. Fourteen percent (14%) of Oregon voters think immigration is the highest priority.

This is the second Rasmussen poll that released head-to-head numbers that did not include Independent candidate, John Frohnmayer, a Bush-41 appointee as Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts.

The poll comes a few weeks after Portland-based pollster Mike Riley released a poll showing Novick with a narrow lead over Merkley in the Democratic Primary.