The Hill's Blog Briefing Room: Dole Trailing in Two N.C. Senate Polls

Michael O’Brien
September 22, 2008

Two independent polls Monday showed incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Dole ® trailing Democratic challenger Kay Hagan in the North Carolina Senate race, boosting Democrats’ hopes to win the seat this fall.

The first poll, conducted by Public Policy Polling September 17 to 19, shows Hagan beating Dole 46-41, attributing the advantage to a recent surge in voters’ listing of the economy as their top issue. Libertarian candidate Christopher Cole drew six percent in the poll, which had a three percent margin of error, and seven percent of voters said they were undecided.

A Rasmussen reports poll also out Monday showed Hagan with a slightly larger lead, leading Dole by six points. Hagan received support from 51 percent of voters in the Rasmussen poll conducted September 18. Dole got 45 percent in the poll, which had a 4.5 percent margin of error.

The Cook Political Report still said the race leaned Republican as of Monday afternoon.

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