Polls: Momentum swinging to Republicans

New results from NBC News/Marist polls show close races in midterm contests that will decide control of the U.S. Senate.

{mosads}The polls found momentum in most of the races has swung to the Republicans, however.

Colorado:

Rep. Cory Gardner (R) holds a slim lead over Sen. Mark Udall (D), 46 to 45 percent. In September, the incumbent led 48 to 42 percent.

Iowa:

Joni Ernst leads Rep. Bruce Braley (D), 49 to 47 percent. Her lead was 2 percentage points, 46 to 44 percent, earlier this month.

Kansas:

Greg Orman (I) holds a slight lead over Sen. Pat Roberts (R), 45 to 44 percent. Orman was up 10 points earlier this month.

Arkansas:

Rep. Tom Cotton (R) has a 2-point lead over Sen. Mark Pryor (D), 45 to 43 percent. Cotton held a 5-point lead last month.

North Carolina:

The new NBC News/Marist poll shows Sen. Kay Hagan (D) deadlocked with Republican opponent Thom Tillis, with each candidate taking 43 percent support. Libertarian Sean Haugh takes 7 percent. Hagan had a 4-point lead earlier this month.

All the races are within the polls’ margins of error.

Pollster Barbara Carvalho of Marist College’s Institute for Public Opinion said, unlike 2012, “Democrats are now struggling to protect their firewall in Iowa, North Carolina and Colorado.”