Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin leads his Republican challenger by 7 percentage points, according to a new poll that shows the Democrat’s cushion shrinking.
Mr. Durbin has a 47.8-40.5 percent edge over businessman and state Sen. Jim Oberweis, the Chicago Sun Times’ Early & Often Poll found.
As the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, Mr. Durbin has enjoyed the kind of lead that fellow incumbents in red-leaning states like Arkansas and Louisiana have not.
However, his margin appears to be shrinking. A Rasmussen poll from April had Mr. Durbin leading by 14 points, and a CBS News/New York Times/YouGov poll from July had him up by 8 points, according to the Sun Times.
Both candidates have weaknesses, the poll found, with voters reporting they are less likely to vote for long-time politicians like Mr. Durbin and candidates who run repeatedly, like Mr. Oberweis.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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