Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has opened up a lead over Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes in the battle to retain his Kentucky seat and shepherd Republicans into the Senate majority, according to two new polls.
Mr. McConnell leads Mrs. Grimes, 50-46 percent, in a CNN/ORC International poll, and by 46-41 percent in a Rasmussen Reports poll, both of which surveyed likely voters.
The CNN poll found that 77 percent of voters have made up their mind, while 19 percent could still change their vote.
Mr. McConnell, who is seeking a sixth term, is trying to paint Mrs. Grimes, the 35-year-old state secretary of state, as too in line with President Obama’s policies to help coal industry. Only one third of likely Kentucky voters approve of the way Mr. Obama is handing his job, while 63 percent disapprove, the CNN poll found.
Mrs. Grimes is portraying Mr. McConnell as a D.C. insider who is out of step with his state and unwilling to bring jobs to Kentucky or help women thrive.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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