Poll: Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mike Espy neck-and-neck, McDaniel distant third in Senate race

A new poll on Mississippi's pending U.S. Senate races shows Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mike Espy and Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith neck and neck in the pack of two Democrats and two Republicans for the special election to replace Thad Cochran.

It shows Hyde-Smith leading in a potential runoff between her and Espy.

McDaniel on Tuesday decried the poll as "fake" and a "dirty trick."

The poll of 1,000 likely voters was conducted by Triumph Campaigns for Y'all Politics on April 10-11. It shows the following results in a four-way race:

Democrat Mike Espy: 33.1 percent

33.1 percent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith : 33 percent

: 33 percent Republican Chris McDaniel: 12.8 percent

12.8 percent Democrat Jason Shelton: 6.2 percent

6.2 percent Undecided: 14.9 percent

Compared to previously reported polling, Hyde-Smith has received a "bump" since Gov. Phil Bryant appointed her to fill the Senate seat until after the Nov. 6. election. Likewise, Espy has lost a few points to Shelton, who has not been included in any other publicly released polls. Candidates have until April 24 to qualify for the special election.

The special election will not have party primaries and is likely to go to a runoff.

In head-to-head matchups, Hyde-Smith leads Espy, but McDaniel trails the former congressman:

Hyde-Smith: 42 percent; Espy: 36 percent

42 percent; 36 percent Espy: 43 percent; McDaniel: 24 percent

The poll also tested primary races for the seat now held by Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker.

Wicker leads GOP challenger Richard Boyanton 68 percent to 10 percent, with 22 percent undecided.

The Democratic primary for that seat appears to be a free-for-all with few decided voters at this point:

David Baria: 6.5 percent

6.5 percent Jensen Bohren: 3.6 percent

3.6 percent Omeria Scott : 8.5 percent

: 8.5 percent Howard Sherman: 2.2 percent

2.2 percent Undecided: 79.1 percent

President Donald Trump's approval rating was at 46 percent, with 41 percent disapproving and 13 percent undecided. Of those polled, 32 percent said Trump's support of a candidate in Mississippi would make them more likely to vote for them, 37 percent said less likely and 31 percent said it would make no difference.

More: Chris McDaniel calls Y'all Politics poll showing him third 'fake,' 'dirty trick'

The poll's partisan split was 44.6 percent Republican, 44.6 percent Democrat and 10.8 percent independent. Respondents to the automated phone poll were heavily female, 66.5 percent to 33.5 percent, and were 61 percent white, 39 percent nonwhite.

Alan Lange of Y'all Politics said the poll was not weighted but instead showed "all our cards laying face-up." Provided crosstabs indicate results are not greatly skewed by gender or other demographics.