McConnell Holding Slim Lead

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is holding a narrow lead in his closely contested Senate race, according to a poll released Thursday by his Democratic opponent.

The poll, conducted Oct. 26-27 by Democratic pollster Frederick Yang, says 47 percent of likely Kentucky voters will back McConnell on Nov. 4, up two points on Democratic businessman Bruce Lunsford. The margin of error of the poll is 4.5 percent. The poll of 502 likely voters says that just 44 percent of voters approve of McConnell’s job performance.

An average of polls posted on the website RealClearPolitics.com shows McConnell leading by 3.6 percent.

“For an incumbent, especially one with Mitch McConnell’s long tenure, to not garner 50%+ with five days remaining should be troubling to his campaign,” Yang said in a memo.

Knocking off the top Senate Republican would represent an enormous victory for Democrats, who will need a Lunsford victory in order to get 60 seats in the Senate.

–Manu Raju