Steelman within striking distance against Carnahan

Public Policy Polling releases a new survey, showing budding GOP star Sarah Steelman within single digits against Democratic favorite Robin Carnahan for Missouri's open Senate seat in 2010.

We floated Steelman's name earlier today as a potential 2012 candidate for President, and before you giggle, check out our profile of the former Treasury Secretary, legislator, and economist. Her name recognition is thin -- in Missouri, she's got positive/negatives of 36/29, far below other challengers -- but a "Sarah Palin with brains", as she was recently described, is bound to be an attractive candidate in a battleground state like Missouri.

And America.