News & Observer: Latest poll shows Hagan pulling away from Tillis

The race for U.S. Senate in North Carolina has been way too close to call, in spite of the millions of dollars that both sides have already spent on TV commercials.

But a new poll – by a North Carolina firm that touts its proprietary methodology as a reliable mirror of the state’s voters – shows a trend that has Sen. Kay Hagan breaking away from Thom Tillis for now.

The American Insights survey, to be released Monday, gives Hagan a nine-point lead, at 43-34, among likely voters. Other recent polls have shown similar results but not as strong for Hagan.

American Insights debuted in February, as the first homegrown polling firm with a Republican slant.

“After being deadlocked for most of the year, the race has unmistakably shifted towards Senator Hagan in recent days,” director Pearce Godwin said in a statement accompanying the poll results. “This poll is a continuation and affirmation of the very recent trend in Sen. Hagan’s direction. But there is still a lot of time left on the clock, and we would not be surprised if this volatile race shifts back to a jump ball between now and November.”