Poll Shows Hagan Leading Tillis In Close Race

A new poll finds U.S. Senator Kay Hagan with a four point lead over her Republican challenger Thom Tillis.

The Elon University survey of more than 1,000 North Carolinians found a 45 to 41 percent edge for Hagan among likely voters. The findings show Hagan has a 19-point advantage among women voters. Poll director Kenneth Fernandez says that's a factor that Tillis will have to address.

"Since women turn out in higher numbers than men in recent elections, that is a big issue," Fernandez says. "So I think Thom Tillis, one of his strategies needs to be reaching out to women voters and maybe particularly single women voters."

About 9 percent of respondents said they didn't plan to vote for either candidate, but many couldn't say who they would vote for. Fernandez says that means there are still persuadable voters out there.

"I would still say that this is a fairly close race, and even though we're getting close to November, a month and a half in campaign terms, a lot can happen," he says.

The Elon poll has a margin of error of about four points.