Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons' (R) political obituary had already been written. But a new Rasmussen poll (500 LVs, 3/31, MoE +/- 4.5%) finds that the embattled first-term leader may yet have a pulse as he runs for re-election. His approval rating has ticked up 5 points since the last poll on March 3, and is now nearly identical to President Obama's in the Silver State. More importantly, he has pulled even with likely Democratic nominee Rory Reid (D).

General Election Matchups
Gibbons 45 (+9 vs. last poll, 3/3)
Reid 43 (-1)
Und 4 (unch)

Sandoval 55 (+2)
Reid 34 (-1)
Und 4 (-1)

Montandon 45 (+3)
Reid 38 (+1)
Und 8 (unch)

Brian Sandoval is still the GOP favorite in the race. But a February Mason Dixon poll showed the governor narrowing the gap in the primary, set for June 8.

Reid, son of the Senate majority leader, still appears hobbled by his father's struggles; 37 percent of voters view him very unfavorably, 2 points higher even than Gibbons. But 17 percent view him very favorably, second only to Sandoval in that category

Favorable Ratings
Gibbons 35 / 62
Montandon 35 / 32
Sandoval 49 / 29
Reid 36 / 53

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