SPRINGFIELD - Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin appears to be in control in his race for re-election against Republican Steve Sauerberg, a new poll for The Pantagraph and other Lee Enterprises newspapers found.

As his fellow Illinois senator competes for the presidency, Durbin, of Springfield, is running for a third term in the Senate, where he serves in the party's leadership. Sauerberg, a doctor from Willowbrook, is attempting his first run for office.

The Research 2000 Illinois Poll of 800 likely voters shows Durbin leading Sauerberg by a 59 percent to 34 percent margin.

"It's a safe Democratic seat," said Research 2000 President Del Ali. "I don't think anyone was shocked as far as Durbin goes."

The telephone poll, conducted for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch/KMOV-TV, The Pantagraph and other Lee Enterprises newspapers, was conducted Oct. 20 to 23. The margin for error is 3.5 percentage points, meaning that either number could be that much higher or lower.

Carl Becker, a poll participant from Altamont who identifies himself as a Republican, said he was dissatisfied with Congress for approving the $700 billion economic bailout, which Durbin voted for.

"I'd like to be bailed out of my problems," Becker said.

Sauerberg has criticized the bailout plan.

Still, Durbin has seen his favorability ratings among Illinoisans increase from 53 percent in October of 2006 to 59 percent two years later, according to the poll.

Durbin's numbers apparently have not been hurt by Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose popularity going in the opposite direction, according to the poll.

Republican candidates for office across Illinois have tried to use Blagojevich's unpopularity to drag down their Democratic opponents.

Of those surveyed, 32 percent approved of Blagojevich's job performance, a number that has slid steadily from 53 percent in October 2004. Illinois lawmakers aren't doing much better, with 40 percent of those surveyed approving of the job the General Assembly is doing.

"The one (piece of) bad news for Democrats is Blagojevich," Ali said. "That's the only silver lining I could find for Republicans."

Dominic Visione of Peoria, an independent, was one person surveyed who disapproved of Blagojevich's opponent.

"When he was running against (Republican Jim) Ryan, I was a big, big Blagojevich supporter," he said.

Now, Visione said, he's upset with how the Chicago Democrat has treated state employees. Many face layoffs or uncertain futures as parks are set to close, social service funding is being cut and the fate of Pontiac Correctional Center remains in question.

The next election for governor is 2010.

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Poll results

Chart shows key findings of a Research 2000 Illinois Poll conducted statewide from Oct. 20 to Oct. 23 for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, KMOV-TV and The Pantagraph. A total of 800 likely voters who vote regularly in state elections were interviewed statewide by telephone. The margin for error is no more than plus or minus 3.5 percent.

If the election for U.S. Senate was held today, would you vote for Democrat Dick Durbin, or Republican Steve Sauerberg?

Durbin…59%

Sauerberg…34%

Undecided…7%

- In Central Illinois, Durbin is the choice of 58%, Sauerberg, 40%

…Favorable…Unfavorable…No opinion

Gov. Rod Blagojevich…32%…66%…2%

Illinois Legislature…40% …51% …9%

How would you rate the performance of Rod Blagojevich as governor?

…Excellent…Pretty good…Only fair …Poor…Not sure

Statewide …3%…28%…48% …19% …2%

Central Illinois…2% …28% …48% …20% …2%