The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey shows that Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman has opened a seven-percentage point lead over Democratic challenger Al Franken in his bid for re-election. Coleman, widely considered one of the most vulnerable incumbents of Election 2008, attracts 50% of the vote for the first time this year while Franken earns support from 43%.

A month ago, the incumbent Senator led the comedian 48% to 46%. Two months ago, Franken had a three-point lead over Coleman. That was before another Democratic candidate, Mike Ciresi, withdrew from the race.

Coleman now leads Franken by nineteen points among men but trails by four among women. Coleman earns 91% support from Republican voters while Franken gets the vote from 75% of Democrats. Coleman has expanded his lead among unaffiliated voters to double digits.

Coleman is viewed favorably by 55%, up three points from a month ago. Franken earns positive ratings from 48%, unchanged since March.

Both Coleman and Franken are viewed Very Favorably by 19% of the state’s voters. Twenty percent (20%) have a Very Unfavorable opinion of Coleman and 29% have such a negative view of Franken.

While Coleman has gained ground in his race since last month, John McCain has gone in the opposite direction. In polling for the Presidential Election in Minnesota, both Democratic hopefuls now lead John McCain. Nationally, the race is close in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

Coleman has long been considered one of the more vulnerable incumbent senators up for re-election in 2008. Any incumbent who polls below 50% is considered potentially vulnerable and that is especially true for an incumbent who trails a challenger early in the campaign. Other Republican seats at risk in the 2008 election cycle include New Hampshire, Colorado, and Virginia.

Rasmussen Markets data just prior to the release of this survey suggested that a close race is expected. Current prices suggest that Coleman is given a % chance of keeping his job.

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