Republican Rep. Tom Cotton is hanging onto a small lead over incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor in the Arkansas race for U.S. Senate, a new Rasmussen Reports survey showed Thursday — as conservative groups reportedly were pouring over $3 million into ads to bolster the challenger's chances.
The
latest survey shows Army vet Cotton with 47 percent support among likely voters compared with Pryor’s 43 percent. Four percent like another candidate in the race, and 6 percent remain undecided.
Cotton held a similar 45 percent to 40 percent lead in early February, Rasmussen reported.
"Republicans need a net gain of six seats to win control of the Senate and see Arkansas as one of their best opportunities because of Pryor’s support of the new national healthcare law," the poll analysis stated.
"With 60 percent who view the law unfavorably in Arkansas, Obamacare remains more unpopular in the state than it is nationally."
The poll has a sampling error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
Polling averages put Pryor ahead — but barely.
Real Clear Politics reports Pryor up by 2.7 percentage points, with 45.7 percent support compared with Cotton's 43 percent.
Meanwhile, KARK, the NBC affiliate in Little Rock, reports conservative groups Americans for Prosperity, Club for Growth, Concerned Veterans for America, Government Integrity Action Fund, and American Crossroads are
spending a combined $3.1 million on ads in support of Cotton this week.