The Libertarian Senate candidate has weighed in on the "Godless" ad.

Christopher Cole writes Dome that the ad controversy has shown flaws with both Sen. Elizabeth Dole and her Democratic opponent, Kay Hagan. 

"The Republicans are demonstrating absolute desperation," he writes. Their inability to campaign on principles — they have none — forces them to scrape the bottom of the Helms barrel."

On the other hand, he argues that Hagan is "offensively disingenuous."

"She turns to a damsel-in-distress routine because she really has no defense," he writes. "She was well-aware that her relationship to the Godless Americans PAC would be offensive to most Carolinians. That's why SHE never publicized it. She got caught, and turns to crocodile tears to gain sympathy."

The U.S. Senate race continues to be close in North Carolina, according to the latest poll numbers.

Public Policy Polling says its latest survey, of 1,038 likely voters on Oct. 25-26, shows that Democratic challenger Kay Hagan is the choice of 48 percent, while Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole is the choice of 45 percent.

Libertarian Christopher Cole was the choice of a "respectable" 4 percent, according to a release by PPP.

The poll's margin of error was plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.

Kay Hagan has a narrow lead in a recent poll.

According to a recent survey by the conservative Civitas Institute, the Democratic Senate candidate had 44 percent of support, Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole had 41 percent and Libertarian Christopher Cole had four percent.

Twelve percent were undecided.

"Our polling shows Kay Hagan has sustained the slim lead we first showed in our polling two weeks ago of just three points over Elizabeth Dole," said executive director Francis De Luca. "The volume and tone of attack ads in this race continues to increase and our poll shows more voters shifting to undecided."

The survey of 600 registered voters was conducted Oct. 18-20 by Tel Opinion Research of Alexandria, Va. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.2 percentage points. 

The Senate race has tightened.

According to a recent survey by Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, Democratic Senate candidate Kay Hagan had 46 percent, Republican Elizabeth Dole had 44 percent and Libertarian Christopher Cole had five percent.

Five percent were undecided. 

"The movement here is similar to that seen in the Presidential race. Hagan is holding steady with an 11 point lead among independents, but Dole has made some in roads with Democrats, who now report supporting Hagan by a 75-16 margin, down from 79-12 last week," pollster Tom Jensen writes. "In her first race Dole benefited from a lot of support with conservative Democrats and she'll need to keep a lot of those voters in her camp to win reelection."

The automated poll of 1,196 voters was taken Oct. 11-12. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.

Kay Hagan is ahead in a new poll.

According to a survey by the conservative Civitas Institute, the Democratic Senate candidate had 45 percent support, Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole had 42 percent and Libertarian Christopher Cole had three percent.

Ten percent were undecided.

"This is the first time our poll shows Kay Hagan with a lead," said executive director Francis De Luca. "The millions spent on negative advertising by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and others attacking Senator Dole is finally paying dividends."

Other recent polls have also shown Hagan ahead by several points.

The survey of 600 likely voters was conducted Oct. 6-8 by TelOpinion Research of Alexandria, Va. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

The race for Senate remains close.

According to a recent poll by SurveyUSA, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole got 44 percent, Democrat Kay Hagan got 43 percent and Libertarian Christopher Cole got seven percent.

Six percent were undecided.

"Dole leads among men, among whites, among middle-aged voters and in Southern and Coastal NC," the pollsters write. "The contest is effectively even in greater Charlotte, greater Greensboro and greater Raleigh. Hagan leads among women, among seniors, among blacks, among pro-choice voters, among Moderates and among Independents." 

The poll of 617 likely voters was taken on Oct. 5-6. he margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points.

Kay Hagan continues her lead in the Senate race.

According to a recent survey by Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, the Democratic Senate candidate had 49 percent, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole had 40 percent and Libertarian Christopher Cole had five percent.

Seven percent were undecided.

Several recent polls in the past few weeks have shown Hagan ahead of Dole.

"Our polling, both public and private, has also found that Hagan is playing extremely well with the state's quickly expanding group of suburban voters," writes pollster Tom Jensen on his blog. "She may well be the standard bearer of the profile of candidate who's going to be successful statewide in 21st century North Carolina."

The automated survey of 1,202 likely voters was taken from Oct. 4-5. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.

Kay Hagan has opened up a significant lead.

According to a recent survey by Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, the Democratic Senate candidate received 46 percent, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole 38 percent and Libertarian Christopher Cole six percent.

Ten percent were undecided.

"Hagan has expanded her lead with independents from 9 points to 14," writes pollster Tom Jensen on his blog. "She leads in almost every region of the state, and perhaps most significantly is up 55-32 with the increasing group of voters listing the economy as their top issues."

The eight-point lead is the largest Hagan has had over Dole in any poll this year. Recent polls had shown the race tightening, though Dole was up by a similar margin in a poll taken in early September.

The automated survey of 1,041 likely voters was taken on Sept. 28-29. The margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points. 

The Senate race remains close.

A new survey by the conservative Civitas Institute shows U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole with 43 percent, Democrat Kay Hagan with 41 percent and Libertarian Christopher Cole with six percent.

Ten percent were undecided.

"The television ads attacking Dole are working to bring Dole back down to Hagan's level, but that loss of support for Dole is not translating into support for Hagan," said executive director Francis De Luca.

In previous polls by the organization, Cole has received between one and four percent despite no advertising and little name recognition.

The live phone survey of 600 likely general election voters was conducted between Sept. 17-20 by Tel Opinion Research of Alexandria, Va. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

Update: The poll may be closer than appears. Hagan led Dole 41-40 in the first round of questioning. Callers who said they were not sure were then asked which way they were leaning, leading to the numbers cited above.

Kay Hagan has a significant lead in a new poll.

According to a recent survey by Rasmussen Reports, the Democratic Senate candidate had 51 percent, while U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole had 45 percent. Libertarian Christopher Cole, the only third-party candidate who will be on the ballot, was not included in the poll.

"Dole's numbers in North Carolina are bad news for a party that had seemed to be making progress in recent week," the pollsters write. 

Other recent polls have shown Hagan ahead by several points. Some have cited ads by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and worries over the economy for her lead. 

The survey of 500 likely voters was taken on Sept. 18. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.