Poll: Ernst maintains edge over Braley

Iowa Republican state Sen. Joni Ernst holds a 2-percentage-point lead over Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) in a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday.

{mosads}Ernst leads Braley 48 percent to 46 percent among likely voters in the poll, which last week also found Ernst leading Braley by 2 points, 47 percent to 45 percent.

Ernst nabs 47 percent of independents, compared to Braley’s 41 percent and holds a 17-percentage-point lead among men to Braley’s 13-point lead among women.

Slightly more Democrats are pulling for Braley, 93 percent, than Republicans for Ernst, 91 percent.

Braley holds a 21-point lead, 58 percent to 37 percent, among those who have already cast their ballot, though Republicans have noted the GOP has an edge in early returns.

Among those yet to cast a vote in the tight race, 4 percent remain undecided.