Surprise: McConnell Trails in Reelection Poll

Mitch McConnell might be in for a nail-biter of a reelection campaign in Kentucky. A new poll from Public Policy Polling shows McConnell in a dead heat with Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, with Grimes ahead by a chin at 45% to 44%, with 11% undecided. That's well within the margin of error, but it's still a significant change compared to PPP's April poll, which showed McConnell up 45-41. The poll also showed that more voters disapproved of his Senate work (51%) than approved of it (40%).

The poll is the first since Grimes formally announced her candidacy, the Atlantic points out. PPP is a Democratic polling firm, but it was fairly reliable in the 2012 cycle. Then again, Republican firm Wenzel Strategies last week had McConnell up 48-40, Politico reports, so things might not be as close as they look. Grimes isn't McConnell's only problem, either; he's also facing a primary challenge from conservative Matt Bevin, though last week's poll shows McConnell trouncing Bevin 59-20. (More Mitch McConnell stories.)