CNN Poll Gives Roberts First Lead In Revamped Kansas Senate Race

Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, left, answers a question during a debate with independent candidate Greg Orman listens during a debate at the Kansas State Fair Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, in Hutchinson, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) held a one-point advantage over independent Greg Orman in a CNN/ORC poll released Wednesday, his first lead since the Democratic nominee dropped out of the race in September.

Roberts leads 49 percent to 48 percent among likely voters, according to the new poll. It was CNN/ORC’s first poll of the Kansas race this year. The poll did not include libertarian candidate Randall Batson, who has been drawing up to 5 percent of the vote in other recent polls.

Former Democratic nominee Chad Taylor was formally removed from the race on Sept. 18.

Other recent polling had consistently shown Orman with an edge in the race. NBC/Marist, released Sunday, gave Orman a 10-point lead. SurveyUSA also put Orman up 5 points this week.

TPM’s PollTracker average currently shows Orman at 47 percent, Roberts at 41.5 percent and Batson at 4.4 percent.

Particularly striking in the CNN/ORC poll are Roberts’ favorability numbers. Exactly half of those surveyed had a favorable view of the incumbent versus 46 percent unfavorable. Sunday’s NBC/Marist poll showed Roberts at 37 percent favorable and 47 percent unfavorable. An Oct. 1 Suffolk University poll showed 39 percent unfavorable and 47 percent unfavorable.

The CNN/ORC poll, conducted Oct. 2 to 6, surveyed 687 likely voters. Its margin of error is 3.5 points.

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