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Pennsylvania

Democratic challenger Bob Casey Jr., the state treasurer: 49 percent

Incumbent Republican Sen. Rick Santorum: 40 percent

Santorum and Bush are lightning rods in the race.

More than two out of five Pennsylvania voters have an unfavorable opinion of Santorum, among the highest negative ratings of any candidate in the battleground states. Also, a quarter of the voters said they were making their decision against someone, rather than for someone. Of those voters, four out of five were against Santorum.

Also, 56 percent of Pennsylvania voters disapprove of how Bush is doing his job. They support Casey by better than 5-1. The 42 percent who approve of Bush break for Santorum by the same margin.

Rhode Island

Democratic challenger Sheldon Whitehouse: 42 percent

Incumbent Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee: 41 percent

Trends look different in Rhode Island in part because Chafee opposes Bush on several major issues -- including Iraq and tax cuts.

Rhode Island gives Bush his worst ratings of any battleground state -- 70 percent disapproval. Yet of those who turn thumbs down on Bush split differently on their Senate choice, 51 percent for Whitehouse and 32 percent for Chafee.

Also, the state ranks Iraq its top issue, but Iraq voters don't give Whitehouse as big an edge as Democrats get in other states. They favor Whitehouse by 56 percent to 37 percent. Chafee doesn't get the margin on terrorism that fellow Republicans get elsewhere. Terrorism voters in Rhode Island break for him by 59 percent to 32 percent.

Virginia

Incumbent Republican Sen. George Allen: 43 percent

Democratic challenger James Webb: 43 percent

Iraq and terrorism are both major issues in the state that is home to the Pentagon and the Atlantic Fleet. Among those who think Iraq is the top issue, Webb leads 4-1. More than three out of five disapprove of how Bush is handling the Iraq war. Of them, 66 percent support Webb, a former combat veteran and Navy Secretary who opposes the war.

Webb was carrying the Democratic Virginia suburbs of Washington but also had an edge in the military-dominated Hampton Roads region. Allen led elsewhere.

A torrent of news suggesting racial insensitivity by Allen apparently took a toll. But news that Webb also used a racial epithet and criticized affirmative action may have hurt him, too.

Results in states held by Democrats

New Jersey

Incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez: 44 percent

Republican Tom Kean Jr., a state senator: 41 percent

Bush is a factor in New Jersey, where 37 percent approve of his job performance and 61 percent disapprove. Menendez leads by 3-1 among those who don't like the way Bush is doing his job. Kean leads by 10-1 among those who like Bush.

Iraq narrowly tops terrorism on New Jersey's list of concerns, noteworthy in a state that lost citizens in the Sept. 11 attacks and has major port operations. Menendez leads by 5-1 among those who rank Iraq tops; Kean leads by 2-1 among those who rank terrorism their top concern.

Maryland

Democratic Rep. Ben Cardin: 47 percent

Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele: 41 percent

The seat is being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Paul Sarbanes.

Maryland voters ranked Iraq the top issue, followed by health care and terrorism. Cardin led by more than 2-1 among voters who ranked Iraq or health care tops. Steele led by a margin of 3-2 among voters who ranked terrorism their top concern.

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