Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley has broken into the lead of the U.S. Senate race in Iowa with a 4 percentage point lead over Republican candidate Joni Ernst, found a new poll released Monday.
Loras College’s statewide survey showed Mr. Braley ahead 45 percent to 41 percent over Ms. Ernst, a state senator who is considered one of the GOP’s best candidate recruits for the midterm elections.
The race to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Tom Harking has been a dead heat for months.
In June, after winning the Republican primary, Ms. Ernst enjoyed a lead in the polls of as much as 6 percentage points, before a series of polls in July and August rated the contest a tie.
But Mr. Braley edged into the lead in September polls. His 4-point advantage in the Loras College poll marking his largest lead.
Christopher Budzisz, the director of the poll at Loras College, said an onslaught of TV attack ads by Mr. Braley’s campaign may explain his recent gains.
“It’s clear that the heavy negative advertising has taken its toll on Ernst,” Mr. Budzisz told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls (Iowa) Courier. “In June, 42 percent of likely voters viewed her favorably, while just 29 percent had an unfavorable view. Her unfavorable rating has now jumped to over 39 percent and exceeds her favorable rating.”
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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