Poll: GOP struggling in key Kansas races

Republicans remain in serious trouble in their historical stronghold state of Kansas, according to the latest poll from SurveyUSA.

In the Senate race, independent candidate Greg Orman has 44 percent against Republican Sen. Pat Roberts' 42 percent, plus 4 percent for Libertarian nominee Randall Batson.

In the gubernatorial race, Democratic state House minority leader Paul Davis leads with 46 percent, against Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's 43 percent, and 5 percent for Libertarian nominee Keen Umbehr.

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And in the state's other seriously contested race, for secretary of state, incumbent Republican Kris Kobach — a nationally known champion of voter-ID laws — is tied with Democratic nominee Jean Schodorf, who formerly served as a Republican member of the state Senate until she was defeated in the GOP primary in 2012. Now, each candidate is at 45 percent.

The survey of likely voters was conducted from Oct. 22 to 26, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Republicans are still widely expected to win the other three statewide races — attorney general, treasurer, and insurance commissioner — which were not included in this poll.