Good news for Menendez, Murphy in North Carolina poll

A new Monmouth University Poll released this morning shows a tight race for U.S. Senate in North Carolina, where Democrat Cal Cunningham leads Republican incumbent Thom Tillis by a 46%-45% margin that is well within the +/- 4.9% margin of error.

Senate races in other states are significant for New Jersey, where U.S. Senator Bob Menendez would become chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee if Democrats take control in the November general election.

In the race for governor, Democratic incumbent Roy Cooper has an 11-point lead, 51%-40%.  That could mean an important win for Gov. Phil Murphy, the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.

The Monmouth Poll has Joe Biden leading Donald Trump by a 47%-45% margin.

“North Carolina has been in play for each of the last three presidential elections and it is going to be that way again this year, especially with a pivotal Senate race sharing the ballot,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.  “An interesting thing about North Carolina is that fewer voters live in swing counties compared with other purple states. One reason Democrats are competitive here is that the core blue areas are strung in a chain across the state rather than clumped in one or two geographic areas.”

Cooper has a 65%-31% approval rating for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Cooper’s handling of the pandemic is one reason why he is in much better position than Democrats running at the top of the ticket,” said Murray.