The Senate race may be tightening.

According to a recent survey by Research 2000 for the liberal Web site the Daily Kos, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole had 50 percent support, while Democratic rival Kay Hagan had 42 percent.

Eight percent were undecided. 

Blogger Markos Moulitsas Zûniga writes that Dole is right at the 50 percent mark "considered 'safe,'" though he doubts she can "just slack off."

The results are a little closer than other recent polls, which have generally shown Dole with a double-digit lead.

The survey of 600 likely voters was taken July 28-30. It has a margin of error of four percentage points.  

Markos Moulitsas Zúniga also chimed in on North Carolina.

After a staffer for Hillary Clinton was quoted saying that Tar Heels would not be in play in the November election, the liberal blogger added his two cents Wednesday:

Should we write off all those states? North Carolina and Nebraska can absolutely be competitive. According to SurveyUSA, North Carolina is currently only a 47-45 McCain state against Obama. And given the torrid growth of the state's Research Triangle, the Democratic gains in the state's 2006 mid-term elections at both the state and federal levels, and the overall negative climate for Republicans, NC is _absolutely_ in play. Even Clinton's 8-point deficit in the state in that SUSA poll suggests that it is the case. 

The N.C. Republican Party is denouncing Kos.

In a press release, the state party calls liberal blogger Markos Moulitsas Zúniga the "founder of an extremist website" known for his "angry, incendiary comments" and "hate-filled rants."

Moulitsas, creator of The Daily Kos, will be on a conference call with the N.C. Democratic Party.

The Web site has more than 125,000 registered members, and includes blogs by U.S. Rep. Brad Miller and Democratic Congressional candidate Marshall Adame from North Carolina.

State Republican Chairwoman Linda Daves said that state Democrats should rebuke Moulitsas.

"The angry, hate-mongering rhetoric of liberal blogger, Markos Moulitsas, should get him pushed to the fringes of the political debate," she said. "Instead, fellow liberals laud him as a 'kingmaker.'"

State Democrats said they were flabbergasted.

"Are these the same people who promoted Karl Rove coming to the Hendersonville Republicans earlier this year?" said Democratic Party spokeswoman Kerra Bolton. "You've got to be kidding me."