Poll Tracker

The Democrat who came closest to Burr was Cal Cunningham, a former state senator (and whose supporters have already started a Facebook page page for him). After PPP read a brief bio of Cunningham to respondents, he came within eight points of Burr, trailing him 42 percent to 34 percent with 24 percent undecided. The margin of error was 3.5 points. Cunningham's bio included the bronze star he won for his efforts to prosecute contractors in Iraq for their crimes.

"That's a good reminder that having a good story to tell can be more important than initial name recognition, as was shown by Kay Hagan's victory last fall," said Debname.

In the other match-ups:

• Burr leads Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former senator and presidential candidate John Edwards 46 percent to 35 percent with 19 percent undecided.

• He leads Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton 48 percent to 29 percent with 22 percent undecided.

• He leads newly-minted state Sen. Dan Blue 44 percent to 33 percent with 23 percent undecided.

• He leads former state Treasurer Richard Moore, who lost the 2008 Democratic gubernatorial primary to Beverly Purdue, by 47 percent to 34 percent with 19 percent undecided.

• He leads seven-term Rep. Bob Etheridge 47 percent to 31 percent with 22 percent undecided.

• He leads two-term Rep. Heath Shuler 44 percent to 28 percentwith 28 percent undecided.

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