GOP's Burr Still Looking Vulnerable for Re-Election in North Carolina

A survey by Public Policy Polling, the Democratic-leaning firm, conducted Dec. 11-13 shows Burr ahead of three Democrats who want his job but he suffers from a negative job approval rating, and when voters are asked whether they would prefer Burr or an unnamed Democrat, the result is a statistical tie.

The conservative Civitas Institute, whose poll was conducted Dec. 1-3, only matched Burr against one Democrat, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, and had him ahead 40 percent to 21 percent. But when it asked the same question about Burr versus a generic Democrat, it also produced a statistical tie.

"Despite Burr's current lead, the Senate race remains one that could become competitive," Civitas said. "When voters were asked generically if they would vote for the Democratic or Republican candidate for US Senate, Democrats held a one point lead (40 percent to 39 percent)."

In the PPP poll, Burr leads former state senator and Iraq war veteran Cal Cunningham 45 percent to 36 percent with 20 percent undecided. Cunningham had earlier opted out of the race, disappointing national Democrats who thought he had the best chance to beat Burr. But he has since entered the contest.

Burr leads Democratic organizer and fundraiser Kenneth Lewis 43 percent to 37 percent with 21 percent undecided.

And he leads Marshall by 42 percent to 37 percent with 21 percent undecided.

In the generic match-up, Burr leads the Democrat 42 percent to 41 percent with 17 percent undecided.

The margin of error for the PPP poll is 4 points.

Thirty-seven percent of voters disapprove of the job Burr is doing while 35 percent approve and 28 percent are undecided.