A new survey paid for by his campaign suggests Rep. Mark Kirk (R) has sustained a wide lead over marketing consultant Dan Seals (D) during the past six months.

In a new McLaughlin and Associates poll, Kirk led Seals 51 percent to 29 percent — a result that was basically unchanged from an electoral snapshot conducted by the same firm in mid-March. Roughly one-fifth of those polled remained undecided.

The new survey, conducted Sept 10-11, interviewed 300 likely general voters and had a 5.6-point margin of error.

The new data also suggests Kirk remains popular in the district, while Seals struggles to become a familiar name in North Shore Chicago households. More than 60 percent of those polled had a favorable impression of Kirk.

Seals hit the airwaves this week with a new television ad, attempting to link Kirk with the policies of the struggling Bush administration.

“Mark Kirk has been there when George Bush needed him,” Seals says in the ad. “He helped Bush write the language that sent our troops to Iraq. Sixteen war votes … and over half a trillion dollars later, he keeps the war going.”

“Mark Kirk voted ‘yes’ to each and every one of Bush’s big budget deficits,” Seals closes the ad. “His loyalty to Bush has made our families’ financial future less secure and our nation less safe.”