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Jim Talent and Claire McCaskill

(KMOV) - The political eyes of the nation are on Missouri, where a hotly contested race between Jim Talent and Claire McCaskill is going down to the wire and could decide who controls the senate.

Results from the latest News 4 St. Louis Post-Dispatch poll show the race is a dead heat.

As they march toward the finish line of another bitter, loud and costly campaign, neither incumbent Missouri Reublican Senator Jim Talent nor Democratic Challenger Claire McCaskill can be assured who'll wake up as Missouri’s senator on November 8th.

According to our poll, the race is a dead heat, 47% for talent, and 47% for McCaskill.  The race is even closer inside the numbers.  Independents are statistically even at 46% to 45% McCaskill, and the key likely voter age demographic of 45 to 59 year olds, is also dead even, registering 48% to 47% for McCaskill.

When we asked our likely voters what issue was most important to them in the senate campaign, we did find a striking difference.  Those favoring McCaskill said the Iraq war and health care.  Those favoring talent said terrorism and avoiding tax increases.

Missouri voters will also make decisions on ballot issues.

The most hotly contested has been amendment two, which deals with stem cell research.  It appears headed to victory, with 51% of those surveyed favoring it, and just 35% opposed, but a large number undecided.

Amendment three would increase Missouri’s cigarette tax by 80 cents a pack.  This also appears headed for victory, with 53% saying they approve the proposal, with only 34% against.

And Proposition B would increase the state's minimum wage to $6.50 an hour.  Those polled favor the proposition by an overwhelming margin, 63% to 29%. 

The measure has widespread support in every demographic group sampled, and all geographic areas, with the exception of republican voters, who disapprove of it 54%to 38%.

Meanwhile in Illinois, voters will elect a governor this year. 

Democratic incumbent Rod Blagojevich leads republican challenger Judy Baar Topinka by 9 points, 47% to 38%.

As always, voter turnout will determine the outcome on Election Day. 

When we asked voters how enthusiastic they were to get to the polls this year, 53% of democrats said they were either enthusiastic or very enthusiastic, but only 36% of republicans said they were enthusiastic or very enthusiastic about the election.

The poll was conducted Monday thru Thursday of this week, sampling 800 likely voters.  The polls margin of error is 3.5%.

On Sunday at 10 p.m., part two of our poll will focus on issues affecting our viewers beyond Election Day.