Nevada voters disapprove of Senator John Ensign’s job performance 47 to 38%. Matched against an unnamed Democrat Nevadans choose Ensign’s Democratic opponent 45:43.

However when paired against named Democrats Nevada voters prefer Ensign. Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto trails the Senator 38 to 48% and Congresswoman Dina Titus falls behind Ensign 41 to 51. A fifth of Democrats side with Ensign when the candidate is named,versus the mere 13% of Democrats who choose Ensign when the Democratic challenger is unnamed. This suggests that Democrats must put forward a strong candidate in order to successfully challenge Ensign.

Neither Cortez Masto nor Titus seem to be sufficient enough to be the Democratic nominee at this point. Cortez Masto is unknown throughout the state. 52% of Nevadans say they are unsure of their opinion of the Attorney General. While Titus is largely unpopular, 47% of Nevadans have an unfavorable opinion of the Congresswoman.

“Ensign is beatable,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “But the Democrats are going to have to find a strong candidate in order to win.”

PPP surveyed ­­­­­­630 Nevada voters from July 16-18.  The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.9%.  Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.

If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.

Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator John
Ensign’s job performance? If you approve,
press 1. If you disapprove, press 2. If you’re
not sure, press 3.
Approve …………………………………………………. 38%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 47%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 15%

Q2 Generally speaking in 2012 would you vote to
reelect John Ensign, or would you vote for his
Democratic opponent? If you would vote for
John Ensign, press 1. If you would vote for his
Democratic opponent, press 2. If you’re
undecided, press 3.
Ensign……………………………………………………. 43%
Democratic Opponent ………………………………. 45%
Undecided………………………………………………. 12%

Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Catherine Cortez Masto? If favorable, press
1. If unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure,
press 3.
Favorable……………………………………………….. 22%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 27%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 52%

Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Dina Titus? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press
3.
Favorable……………………………………………….. 38%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 47%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 15%

Q5 If the candidates for Senate in 2012 were
Republican John Ensign and Democrat
Catherine Cortez Masto, who would you vote
for? If John Ensign, press 1. If Catherine
Cortez Masto, press 2. If you’re undecided,
press 3.
Ensign……………………………………………………. 48%
Masto…………………………………………………….. 38%
Undecided………………………………………………. 14%

Q6 If the candidates for Senate in 2012 were
Republican John Ensign and Democrat Dina
Titus, who would you vote for? If John Ensign,
press 1. If Dina Titus, press 2. If you’re
undecided, press 3.
Ensign……………………………………………………. 51%
Titus………………………………………………………. 41%
Undecided………………………………………………. 8%

Q7 Who did you vote for President last year? If
John McCain, press 1. If Barack Obama,
press 2. If someone else or you don’t
remember, press 3.
McCain…………………………………………………… 45%
Obama…………………………………………………… 49%
Someone Else/Don’t Remember………………… 5%

Q8 If you are a liberal, press 1. If a moderate,
press 2. If a conservative, press 3.
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 13%
Moderate………………………………………………… 47%
Conservative…………………………………………… 40%

Q9 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%

Q10 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If you are a
Republican, press 2. If you are an independent
or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 41%
Republican……………………………………………… 39%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 20%

Q11 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 14%
White …………………………………………………….. 73%
African American …………………………………….. 8%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%

Q12 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1 now. If
you are 30 to 45, press 2. If you are 46 to 65,
press 3. If older, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 7%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 18%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 46%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 29%