Poll: Rohrabacher holds slim lead in reelection bid

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) holds a 2-point lead over his Democratic challenger with two weeks left until the midterm elections, according to a poll released Tuesday.

A Monmouth University poll found Rohrabacher leads Harley Rouda, 50 percent to 48 percent, in its likely voter model in the race for California’s 48th Congressional District. The difference falls well within the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 5.1 percentage points.

Rohrabacher holds a razor-thin lead among independents, with 48 percent of those voters backing the nearly 30-year incumbent and 47 percent favoring Rouda, who is a businessman and political newcomer.

{mosads}The Republican holds a 9 point advantage among men surveyed, 54-45, while women in the poll supported the Democrat, 50-47.

Rohrabacher has long been considered one of the most pro-Russia members of Congress. His ties to the country have come under scrutiny in recent months as special counsel Robert Mueller and congressional panels investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election.

However, the congressman’s connections to Russia are a nonfactor for most voters in his district, according to the poll. While 37 percent of respondents said they are at least a little concerned about his attitude toward Russia, 56 percent said they are not concerned that Rohrabacher may be too friendly toward Russia.

The poll surveyed 372 likely voters in the congressional district from Oct. 17-21.

Tuesday’s poll shows Rohrabacher gaining compared to a July Monmouth poll that had him trailing Rouda, 46-43.

Rohrabacher’s is considered one of the most vulnerable GOP-held seats in the 2018 midterms, as Hillary Clinton (D) won the district by a little more than 1 percentage point in 2016.

The Cook Political Report rates the seat as “toss-up.”

Democrats need to pick up 23 seats in next month’s elections to regain control of the House.