MT-PPP: Tester popular, but...

[Miles]

still slightly trails.

Tester:
Approve- 51% (50)
Disapprove- 39% (40)

Rehberg:
Favorable- 44% (49)
Unfavorable- 45% (37)

2012 Senate Race:
Rehberg- 47%
Tester- 45%

Baucus:
Approve: 40% (38)
Disapprove: 50% (53)

http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2011/06/despite-popularity-tester-narrowly.html

[Miles]

is this proof that senate races are becoming hyperpartisan?

"Tester's party approves of his job performance, 89-5, but 10% of them say they'd vote for Rehberg at this point, and 86% stay faithful. Rehberg actually improves on his standing with his own party. 13% of them disapprove of his performance, and only 74% approve, but he locks up their vote, 86-8. Tester does have a 51-36 lead with independents, helping to cut into the GOP ID advantage."

It seems like it. Tester needs to keep that extra 10% of Dems voting for Rehberg though.

[Miles]

Did they ask the matchup before or after they went off topic with Baucus?  Dissatisfaction with him might have influenced Tester-Rehberg.  Either way, Rehberg is YaJO and should lose this pickup opportunity.

I think PPP asks about approvals before they ask about election matchups. They also get other miscellaneous things as well (governor/president approval, etc.)

Yes, Rehberg is very gaffe-prone.