Poll: Iowa Senate race tightens, Ernst now leads Braley by a point

The new poll reveals three potential reasons why this race has tightened in the final sprint:

• The Democrats’ aggressive early voting push is aiding Braley, an eight-year congressman from Waterloo. They’re rounding up ballots from Iowans who would not otherwise have voted.

• A majority of Iowa likely voters appreciate having a U.S. senator from each political party. Retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, 74, has been an old-school liberal street fighter for Iowa for 30 years. And Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, 81, who intends to keep adding to his 33 years in the Senate, is a conservative powerhouse.

• Likely voters find more of Braley’s policy positions closer to their own views than Ernst’s positions among 10 issues tested. A majority of likely voters favor six of Braley’s stances to four of Ernst’s.