Cooper holds 9-point edge over Whatley in latest US Senate poll

Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper holds a 9-point lead over Republican Michael Whatley in North Carolina’s open US Senate race, according to a new poll commissioned by the elections-integrity group RightCount and released earlier this month. The survey, conducted by Opinion Diagnostics, found 50% of registered North Carolina voters supporting Cooper, compared to 41% for Whatley, with 8% undecided. An earlier poll commissioned by Healthier United and conducted March 8-9 — days after both candidates clinched their party nominations — showed a wider 18-point Cooper lead. A March 13-14 survey from Public Policy Polling, a Democratic-aligned firm, found the race...