New Poll Shows Murphy Gaining in Support Against Rubio

November’s general election contest for Marco Rubio’s Senate seat is no longer a lock for the Republican incumbent, according to the latest poll by Quinnipiac University.

The poll, which was released on Thursday, showed U.S. Rep. and Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy within near-striking distance of ousting Rubio, should the GOP Congressman win his primary against local developer Carlos Beruff. Rubio leads Murphy 48 points to Murphy’s 45 points in the hypothetical matchup. Murphy’s primary opponent, Alan Grayson, polled at 43 points to Rubio’s 49 points.

"At this stage of the campaign, Republican U.S. Senate candidates may be running against their own presidential nominee, Donald Trump, as much as they are against their Democratic opponents," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

"In each of the three key swing states, the incumbent U.S. senators seeking re-election are running better than Trump. But if Trump continues to lag behind in the presidential race, that will make it more difficult for GOP candidates, logic holds, up and down the ballot."

"Sen. Rob Portman in Ohio may have a strong enough lead to escape the Trump effect," Brown added. "But Sen. Marco Rubio, who had been considered a big favorite, might be another story in Florida where he is virtually tied with one of his Democratic challengers. And in Pennsylvania, incumbent Sen. Pat Toomey is basically tied with challenger Katie McGinty, while Trump is running 10 points behind Hillary Clinton in the Keystone State.