Pat Roberts trails independent challenger

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) is trailing his independent opponent, according to a new survey from Democratic firm Public Policy Polling.

{mosads}Independent Greg Orman leads Roberts 41 percent to 34 percent with Democrat Chad Taylor, who’s seeking to have his name removed from the ballot, pulling 6 percent in the automated poll.

With Taylor removed, Orman’s lead grows to 46 percent to 36 percent against the longtime senator, who has been dogged by questions about how much time he spends in Kansas and is facing a surprisingly competitive race.

Roberts’s numbers aren’t in a good place: 46 percent disapprove of the job he’s been doing, while 29 percent approve in the solidly Republican state. President Obama is at 58 percent disapproval in the state with 29 percent approving. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) is at 36 percent approval and 53 percent disapproval in the poll and trails his Democratic opponent by a four-point margin.

Orman, who’s been running TV ads, has a 39 percent approval rating and 19 percent disapproval rating.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments today on Davis’s attempt to get off the ballot, after Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) ruled that he couldn’t.

The automated poll of 1,328 likely voters was conducted from Sept. 11-14.