* Rasmussen is out with its latest. With leaners…

Kirk: 44% [41%, 45%]

Giannouolias: 41% [37%, 45%]

Jones: 4% [9%, N/A]

Other: 4% [5%, 3%]

Unsure: 8% [9%, 8%]

It looks like people are finally starting to harden up and moving away from third parties, but this is just one poll.

* Initial preference…

Kirk: 39% [37%, 40%, 40%, 41%, 39%, 42% 46%, 41%, 41%, 46%]

Giannoulias: 36% [34%, 42%, 40%, 43%, 40%, 39% 38%, 37%, 44%, 40%]

Jones: 6% [12%, N/A]

Other: 4% [3%, 6%, 8%, 6%, 9%, 7% 5%, 8%, 5%, 4%]

Unsure: 15% [14%, 12%,12%, 10%, 12%, 12% 12%. 13%, 10%, 10%]

* From the pollster…

Kirk and Giannoulias have now run within three points or less of each other in seven surveys since early June.

But a lot of voters still haven’t made up their minds. Just 56% of those who support Kirk say they are already certain how they will vote in November. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of Giannoulias voters say the same, along with 47% of those who support Jones.

Kirk has the backing of 80% of Illinois Republicans, while Giannoulias is supported by 71% of the state’s Democrats. The GOP candidate has a better than two-to-one lead among voters not affiliated with either party. Jones gets single-digit support from voters in both major parties and unaffiliateds.

If you’re wondering why Giannoulias is still talking to his base, that’s why.

* “I’m going to read you a short list of issues in the news. For each, please let me know which political party you trust more to handle that issue”…

Democrats lead on almost everything except their candidates.

* And here’s one that Raz didn’t publish…

Discuss.