polling

• It’s polling day! The Republican firm American Insights releases a survey showing incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan with a 9-point lead over Republican Thom Tillis among “likely voters,” 43-34. Libertarian Sean Haugh gets support from 5 percent. (More from CJ’s Barry Smith here.) Meantime, a new Elon Poll also shows Hagan with a lead, though narrower, at 45-41. Both surveys show a big gender gap, with Hagan easily winning over women voters.

• The grass-roots conservative activist group Americans for Prosperity announces a weeklong, statewide series of rallies against Hagan. The first is next Monday in Asheville. A host of conservative pundits and media personalities will join.

• The “average teacher” starring in a new anti-Tillis ad sponsored by the National Education Association just happens to be a longtime liberal activist who’s affiliated with a left-leaning group that organized against the General Assembly’s education policies. She also participated in Moral Monday protests.

• The day after Gov. Pat McCrory announces he will not convene a special session of the General Assembly to boost tax-funded incentives for Hollywood, Hagan tells New Hanover County Democrats the move is a mistake. She blames Tillis for failing to twist the governor’s arm.

• Potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie will stump for Tillis tomorrow in Wilmington. A public event will be held in the morning (details forthcoming). Oh, and at a private event the New Jersey governor will raise money for the state’s House speaker and Senate candidate.