Staff report

State Sen. Bill Purcell is ahead of his Republican challenger in the race for the Senate District 25 seat, according to poll by the Civitas Institute.

According to the poll of 350 registered voters in the district, 48 percent of voters said that if the election were held today, they would vote for Purcell.

Purcell is being challenged by Jason Phibbs to represent the district, which includes Scotland, Anson, Richmond and Stanly counties.

Forty percent said they would vote for Phibbs and 12 percent said they are undecided, according to the poll.

This gap narrows, however, to a two-point margin of 46 percent Democratic-44 percent Republican when voters are asked which candidate for state legislature they will vote for this fall.

“This district slightly leans Democratic, but was carried by John McCain in the Presidential race in 2008 and could become competitive as voters are leaning Republican across much of the state,” said Civitas Institute Senior Legislative Analyst Chris Hayes.

Hayes said further analysis reveals that Independent voters are trending Republican, as 57 percent said they will vote for the Republican candidate.

Purcell, who is currently serving his sixth term in the Senate, said he doesn't put much stock in polls — even those that put him ahead.

"I don't pay much attention to that," Purcell said. "What I'm focused on is continuing to campaign hard for this job and work on the issue that are important to this District and Scotland County."

Poll also said that Purcell is benefiting from his name identification among voters as 41 percent of voters have an opinion of him (26 percent favorable, 15 percent unfavorable). Conversely, Phibbs is by and large unknown to voters in the district.

Still Phibbs said he found the poll "encouraging."

"It is just another reason to be encouraged to see how the independents are breaking mainly Republican," Phibbs said.