Speed Reads

2014 Watch

Polls show tight races for U.S. Senate

A number of key U.S. Senate races remain close, according to polls released on Monday.

In Kentucky, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) just edges out Democratic nominee Alison Lundergan Grimes, 44 percent to 43 percent, plus Libertarian candidate David Patterson with 5 percent, according to the new Bluegrass Poll, which is conducted by SurveyUSA for a number of Kentucky media outlets. The survey of likely voters was conducted from Oct. 15 to 19, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

In Kansas, Republican Sen. Pat Roberts and Independent candidate Greg Orman are tied at 46 percent each, according to a Monmouth University poll. The survey of likely voters was conducted from Oct. 16 to 19, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percent.

In New Hampshire, Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen narrowly leads with 49 percent, to ex–Republican Sen. Scott Brown's (formerly of Massachusetts) 46 percent, according to the new Suffolk University/Boston Herald poll. The survey of likely voters was conducted from Oct. 16 to 19, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.