Democrats ahead in three key Senate races

A new handful of polls on Thursday show Democrats ahead in some swing-state Senate races that the party absolutely must hold on to if it is to keep its majority in the Senate (though it should be noted, Democrats could theoretically keep these seats and still lose control of the Senate as a result of other races elsewhere on the map).

In Colorado, a SurveyUSA poll conducted for The Denver Post shows Democratic Sen. Mark Udall with 46 percent, ahead of Republican Rep. Cory Gardner, with 42 percent. The survey of likely voters was conducted from Sept. 8 to 10, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

In the Michigan Senate race, where Democratic Sen. Carl Levin is retiring, a poll by Suffolk University gives Democratic Rep. Gary Peters a strong lead with 46 percent, compared to the Republican former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land at 37 percent. The survey of likely voters was conducted from Sept. 6 to 10, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percent points.

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In North Carolina, another SurveyUSA poll conducted for the conservative Civitas Institute has Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan with 46 percent, and Republican state House Speaker Thom Tillis with 43 percent, plus Libertarian nominee Sean Haugh with 5 percent. The survey of likely voters was conducted from Sept. 9 to 10, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.