Fischer leads Osborn by 2 points in new poll of Nebraska Senate race
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A new poll shows Sen. Deb Fischer narrowly leading independent candidate Dan Osborn in Nebraska.
The New York Times and Siena College surveyed 1,194 likely voters from Wednesday through Saturday.
The Republican incumbent had the support of 48% of respondents, while 46% said they would vote for Osborn.
Another 5% were undecided or didn’t answer.
SEE ALSO: Campaign-sponsored poll shows Osborn 1 point ahead of Fischer in Nebraska Senate race
Fischer leads among the largest demographic groups in the state: people over 45, white voters and those without a college degree.
She also has a 13-point advantage with men, according to the poll.
The survey found that Osborn has a 31-point lead over Fischer with self-identifying independents.
He is also supported by 88% of Democrats and 15% of Republicans, according to the poll.
SEE ALSO: Independent Dan Osborn submits 12,500 signatures for Nebraska Senate race
An Osborn win would be a stunning upset in Nebraska, where Republicans outnumber Democrats 2-to-1.
Fischer won her first Senate term in 2012 by 16 percentage points and was reelected in 2018 by 19 points.
The New York Times survey was the first independent poll of the race. All others have been funded by the campaigns.
SEE ALSO: Sen. Deb Fischer routs opponent in Republican primary
Pollsters also asked about other races in Nebraska.
Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts leads Democrat Preston Love Jr. in the special election for U.S. Senate by 19 points, the poll found.
And in the presidential race, former President Donald Trump dominates Vice President Kamala Harris 55% to 40% statewide.
But the state splits its votes by congressional district, and Harris is far ahead in the 2nd District, leading Trump 54% to 42%.
The poll also suggests that Trump’s lead in the 1st District could be vulnerable. It found him ahead by 4 percentage points.
The margin of error in the statewide poll is 3.2%, but it’s not clear if the margin is different for the 1st District.
SEE ALSO: ‘It makes us relevant’: Nebraska senator elaborates on opposition to winner-take-all
