Ras: WV Sen a "toss up"

No wonder Joe Manchin is calling up the ghost of Robert Byrd.

The latest poll from Rasmussen Reports says Joe Manchin is down to just a 5-point lead over Republican challenger John Raese. Here's the top of the report:

West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin and Republican businessman John Raese continue to run a surprisingly close race in the state's special Senate election to replace the late Robert Byrd.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in West Virginia shows Manchin with 50% support and Raese with 45%, when leaners are included. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate in the race, and three percent (3%) are undecided.

The West Virginia race now moves from Leans Democratic to a Toss-Up in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Senate Balance of Power rankings. Less than two weeks ago, the first post-primary survey of the race moved it from Solid Democratic to Leans Democratic.

The survey of 500 likely voters was done Wednesday and has a 4.5% MoE. Toplines here.