The Eye

He went from an 8-percentage point lead against Marshall in March to 12 percent in August; a 9 percent margin against Cunningham in July to 15; and an 11 percent July lead over Lewis to 16 percent in August. The poll also tested Burr against Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy, who is mulling a race, and found Burr led Foy 43 percent to 27 percent.

Burr also boosted his lead against a generic Democrat, 42 percent to 35 percent. Burr lead just 40 to 38 percent last month.

But Burr's approval rating remains a lackluster 38 percent, compared to 36 percent in July.And more than four years into his first term, 30 percent of voters still have not formed an opinion of Burr. A similar percentage of voters remain undecided in all four of Burr's match-ups with Democrats.

"The fact that Burr's reelection numbers are improving even as his approval rating stays mired in the 30s is an indication of how much his fate will be determined by the national climate," said Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling , Debnam pointed to President Barack Obama's sinking approval in North Carolina as a development that has helped Burr - earlier this week PPP reported that 47 percent disapprove of Obama's job performance while 46 percent approve, down from a high of 54 percent approval in April.