North Carolina’s U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan has opened up a 9-point lead over her Republican challenger Thom Tillis, according to a poll released Monday.
American Insights, a North Carolina-based, Republican-leaning polling firm, reports that Hagan, a Democrat, has a 43 percent to 34 percent lead over Tillis among likely voters. Libertarian candidate Sean Haugh received five percent support.
National Republicans had once viewed Hagan as a vulnerable Democrat in the party’s quest to gain the six seats needed to become the majority in Congress’ lower chamber.
“This poll is a continuation and affirmation of the recent trend in [Hagan’s] direction,” Insights director Pearce Godwin told the Washington Examiner. “But there is still a lot of time left on the clock, and I would not be surprised if this volatile race shifts back to a jump ball between now and November.”
This latest poll follows North Carolina’s senatorial debate earlier this month, in which 54 percent of likely voters surveyed said Hagan was the winner. Thirty-three percent said Tillis was the winner.
Hagan has opened up leads with men, women and independent voters in the state, while Tillis, speaker of the North Carolina state House, leads among white voters and native North Carolinians.
The poll was conducted between Sept. 5-10 and surveyed 600 registered voters. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus four percent, and questions were asked by live landline phone, cell phone and online.
