The first post-primary poll of the U.S. Senate race between Republican Steve Daines and Democrat John Walsh was released by Rasmussen Reports yesterday. Many thought that Daines’ lead would narrow once the contentious primary process had ended, but, as pollster Fran Coombs explains, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

"We've got Steve Daines up 53-35 over John Walsh," Coombs said. "That's a little higher margin, in fact, than we had earlier this year. In March, it was 51-37, so Daines led by 14 points at that point. He's up by 18 now."

Coombs says that the Affordable Care Act may be the reason Walsh’s poll numbers have lagged

"Daines obviously is viewed more favorably," Coombs said. "We see, for example, Obamacare is very unpopular, very unpopular in Montana. More unpopular there than in fact it is even nationwide. As you know, there are democrats all over the country who are running away for Obamacare--the democrats that are running for reelection. That'd be hurting Walsh."

Coombs says the poll targeted 750 likely voters in Montana.

 

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