Poll: Republican holds slim lead in Iowa

Iowa state Sen. Joni Ernst (R) has a narrow lead over Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) in a crucial battle for Senate control, according to a new poll conducted for NBC News.

{mosads}Ernst leads Braley by 46 percent to 44 percent in the live-caller poll, conducted by Marist College.

That matches what other recent polls have found, with a tied race or Ernst sustaining a slight lead in a race that could determine which party will run the upper chamber after this election.

Braley’s struggles have contributed greatly to where the race is today. But as the poll indicates, both candidates still have a strong chance of winning on Election Day.

The live-caller poll of 778 likely voters was conducted using cell phones and landlines and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.