The latest CNN/ORC polls, released Monday, show bad news for Republican Senate candidates in the battleground states of Nevada and North Carolina, following strong numbers in thoes states for Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Among likely voters in North Carolina, a tied presidential race at 45 percent in August now has Clinton ahead of Republican Donald Trump one point, 48 percent to 47 percent. Republican senator Richard Burr, up five points over Democrat Deborah Ross in August (50 percent to 45 percent), now has seen his lead shrink to one point, 48 percent to 47 percent.
In Nevada, Clinton leads Trump by 4 points, with 50 percent of the vote. In that state’s Senate race to replace outgoing minority leader Harry Reid, Republican Joe Heck trails Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto by 7 points, 52 percent to 45 percent.
The best news for Trump and Republicans has been in Ohio, where Trump has lost ground but remains ahead. In September, Trump led Clinton 46 percent to 41 percent, a lead of 5 points. Now, Trump leads by 4 points, 48 percent to Clinton’s 44.
The same has been true for Republican senator Rob Portman, who held a 21-point lead over former governor Ted Strickland in September, 58 percent to 37 percent. Portman’s sizable lead has dropped 5 points in October, 56 percent to 40 percent.
CNN found, though, that Trump voters “are more enthusiastic about voting than are Clinton’s supporters in both Nevada and Ohio.” However, Clinton voters are more enthustiastic in North Carolina.
