Rasmussen poll: Deal's lead over Barnes now 10 points

UNDATED - Republican Nathan Deal now holds a 10-point lead over Democrat Roy Barnes in Georgia's gubernatorial race, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state.

The poll finds Deal earning 49% of the vote to Barnes' 39%. Libertarian candidate John Monds is a distant third, picking up just five percent (5%) support. Another five percent (5%) prefer some other candidate, while one percent (1%) are undecided.

If the election next Tuesday were to turn out that way, Barnes and Deal would have to meet in a runoff later in the month.

The race has moved from "Leans Republican" to "Solid Republican" on the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Gubernatorial Scorecard.

Earlier this month, Deal led Barnes 50% to 41%, with Monds receiving three percent (3%) of the vote. In surveys since March, the former congressman has held small leads over Barnes, with support ranging from 43% to 51%. In those same surveys, Barnes' support has remained in the narrow range of 39% to 43%. Monds has failed to earn more than five percent (5%) of the vote since late September.

Deal is favored by 82% of Georgia Republicans. Eighty-four percent (84%) of Democrats in the state support Barnes, who served as governor from 1999 to 2003. Monds earns single-digit support from both GOP voters and Democrats. Among voters not affiliated with either party, Deal holds a 51% to 30% advantage over his Democratic challenger, with Monds earning 11% support, according to the report.

Eighty-five percent (85%) of Deal supporters are certain how they'll vote next week, as are 76% of Barnes voters. Ninety percent (90%) of those voters who back Monds are already sure how they will vote on Election Day.

Thirty percent (30%) of all voters in the state consider themselves members of the Tea Party movement, much higher than the national level. A majority (57%), however, do not identify themselves with that movement. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure.

Among those Tea Partiers in Georgia, 87% favor Deal. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of non members support Barnes.

Deal is trusted more than Barnes to handle the issues of the economy and jobs, immigration, taxes and government spending. Voters are evenly divided between the candidates when asked who will better deal with government ethics and corruption.

Forty-eight percent (48%) of the state's voters share a favorable impression of Deal, while 45% view him unfavorably. These findings include 17% Very Favorable and 24% Very Unfavorable.

For Barnes, favorables are 40% and unfavorables are 53%, including 20% Very Favorable and 35% Very Unfavorable.

Monds is regarded favorably by 25% and unfavorably by 29%, with three percent (3%) Very Favorable and nine percent (9%) Very Unfavorable. But 45% don't know the Libertarian well enough to offer any opinion of him.