The new Public Policy Polling survey in North Carolina that we previewed last night is out and shows Roy Cooper (D) leading Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), 41% to 37%.
Burr's approval rating is a dismal 35%. As a comparison, former Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) was at "a much better, although still mediocre," 43% at this point in the cycle two years ago. She was defeated last November.
Analysis: "There's no doubt who the Democrats' strongest potential contender for this seat is and there's no doubt that if Cooper entered the race it would become a tossup at the least, if not even a slight Democratic advantage. Burr's name would go up there with Chris Dodd and Jim Bunning's as the most vulnerable incumbents in the country."