GOP's Richard Burr Has Modest Lead Over Elaine Marshall in N.C. Senate Race

Republican Sen. Richard Burr leads Democratic challenger Elaine Marshall by 43 percent to 38 percent, with 6 percent for Libertarian Michael Beitler and 13 percent undecided, according to a Public Policy Polling survey conducted Aug. 27-29. The margin of error is 3.6 points.

That's a slightly bigger lead than PPP's early August poll that had Burr ahead by a statistically-insignificant 39 percent to 37 percent, but the earlier number was of all registered voters. Now, that election day is getting closer, PPP has started surveying likely voters.

While Burr's numbers as an incumbent are hardly impressive, and his modest margin over Marshall at this point suggests a competitive race, PPP's Dean Debnam says that "Marshall's persistent single-digit deficit before Burr starts really flexing his financial muscles this week has to worry Democrats."

Forty-two percent of voters disapprove of the job Burr is doing while 38 percent approve, with 21 percent not sure. As for Marshall, the most significant number when voters are asked whether they see her favorably or unfavorably is the 54 percent who still don't know enough about her to be sure of their opinion.

Burr does slightly better among fellow Republicans than Marshall does among Democrats, but he leads among independents by 41 percent to 21 percent with 15 percent for Beitler and 23 percent undecided. Beitler draws 4 percent of the Republican vote and 5 percent from Democrats.

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