A new poll shows Republican challenger Patrick Morrisey inching ahead of Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin in West Virginia’s pivotal Senate race.

The poll, commissioned by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, shows Morrisey, the state attorney general, leading Manchin 44 percent to 42 percent. Libertarian Rusty Hollen takes 3 percent, and 12 percent are undecided.

Take Hollen out of the equation, and Morrisey leads Manchin 47 percent to 45 percent, with 8 percent undecided.

Since the confirmation fight over Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Republican Senate candidates have surged in red states. West Virginia has remained a tough target for the GOP, however, even though President Trump won the state by 42 points in 2016. Manchin is up by 12 points in the RealClearPolitics polling average.

The survey of 600 likely voters was taken Oct. 16-18 with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.

