Republican State Senator Bill Brady has now opened a seven-point lead over embattled Governor Pat Quinn in Illinois’ gubernatorial race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Brady picking up 44% of the vote, while Quinn earns support from 37%. Eleven percent (11%) prefer a different candidate, and nine percent (9%) are undecided.

Earlier this month, Quinn pulled within three points of his challenger following an announcement that he was cutting state spending by $1 billion as he wrestles with one of the worst state budget deficits in the country.

But in June, Brady was ahead 47% to 36%. The Republican has maintained the lead since early March when he was declared the winner of the state GOP Primary. However, his support prior to this month has ranged slightly higher, from 45% to 47%. Support for the incumbent has remained in the narrow range of 36% to 40% since March.

The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Illinois was conducted on July 26, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/-4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Quinn, the elected lieutenant governor, rose to the top post following Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment by the State Senate last year on corruption charges.

Thirty-seven percent (37%) of Illinois voters approve of the job Brady is doing as governor, down seven points from earlier this month, while 61% disapprove.

The Republican holds a 13-point lead among men, but women are evenly divided between the candidates. Brady picks up support from 88% of Republicans, while Quinn is supported by only 61% of those in his party. Brady has a modest lead among voters not affiliated with either major political party.

The Illinois race for U.S. Senate between Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk remains very close.

Quinn is viewed Very Favorably by seven percent (7%) and Very Unfavorably by 32%.