Coleman's approval rating going down

The poll, conducted by Survey USA, finds that 48 percent of those polled don't approve of the job Coleman is doing, while 43 percent approve. Another 9 percent are undecided. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, says the trend doesn't bode well for Coleman.

"Norm Coleman has now voted five times against changing course in Iraq this year, including as recently as last week," says Miller. "That's a position that is out of touch with Minnesotans, and it's something than an overwhelming number of his constituents disagree with and it's showing up in the polls."

Cullen Sheehan, the manager of Coleman's re-election campaign, says this is just one of many polls that will be done between now and the November 2008 election. He attributes the most recent poll to a barrage of TV ads criticizing Coleman for his stance on the Iraq war.

"I don't think you'll find anyone who disagrees with the fact that Minnesota is a toss-up state when it comes to statewide elections. We're gearing up for what is definitely going to be a tough battle, but I think that voters, ultimately, 16 months from now are going to reject the negative attacks we've seen," says Sheehan.

Coleman's disapproval numbers have increased 7 percentage points since a similar poll was taken in June. Coleman is considered one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the U.S. Senate.

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