The Illinois Senate race remains close, according to the latest Rasmussen poll, released on Thursday, as GOP nominee Rep. Mark Kirk stuggled in past weeks to get past a controversy involving the embellishment of his record as a Navy Reserves Commander.

In an automated poll taken July 7, Democrartic contender Alexi Giannoulias, the state treasurer, was at 40 percent to 39 percent for Kirk, nine percent for other contenders and 12 percent not sure.

In June, Kirk was at 42 percent to Giannoulias at 39 percent.