Republican candidate Joni Ernst has taken a 4-point lead over Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) in the race for Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat.
The latest Quinnipiac University poll shows Ernst up 49 percent to 45 percent, a 2-point improvement over Quinnipiac's last poll which only had Ernst up by 2, 48 percent to 46 percent.
"Nothing is for sure, but one would certainly rather be in her shoes this morning than Braley's," Quinnipiac Poll assistant director Peter Brown said. "Ernst's lead is built upon a 9-point lead among independent voters and a larger lead among men than Braley is able to muster among women," Brown continued. "And, in what was a strongly negative campaign, she emerged from the mud-slinging with voters liking her a bit more, usually an advantage that tends to translate into votes."
Iowa voters do seem to like Ernst personally more. A full 45 percent of Iowa voters have a favorable opinion of Ernst, while just 43 percent have an unfavorable opinion of her. Braley, meanwhile is disliked by more Iowans (43 percent) than like him (40 percent).
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