[img_assist|nid=427|title=U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston) campaigning in Framingham earlier this year|desc=Politicker Photo|link=none|align=left|width=411|height=317]U.S. Sen. John Kerry continues to carry a significant lead over Republican challenger Jeff Beatty, the latest poll from Rasmussen Reports shows.

According to the survey of 500 likely voters, Kerry leads Beatty 63 percent to 31 percent. One percent of respondents answered "other" and 5 percent were undecided.

In the last Rasmussen poll, taken at the end of September, Kerry was up 35 points over Beatty, 65 percent to 30 percent.

Sixty-five percent of respondents viewed Kerry very or somewhat favorably, compared to 34 percent for Beatty.

The two shared similar unfavorability ratings, though, with 34 percent viewing Kerry somewhat or very unfavorably compared to 35 percent for Beatty. Beatty has still yet to break through to voters with his message, however, as 31 percent said they are not sure how they view him.

There was a margin of error of 4.5 percent on the poll.