Poll: Nevada Senate race neck and neck

Nevada's hotly contested Senate race is essentially tied, according to a new poll conducted for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) leads Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) 44 percent to 43, according to the poll.

Berkley holds a 14-point lead in Clark County, home to Las Vegas and her congressional district, while Heller does much better in rural Nevada, with a 24-point lead outside of the county. Heller served as congressman from that area until he was appointed to the Senate earlier this year.

Nevada is one of Democrats' top two targets, along with Massachusetts, for picking up seats. Republicans need to net four seats to take control of the Senate, and if Democrats can pick up this seat it makes it harder for the GOP to accomplish that goal.

The poll of 600 registered voters was conducted from dec. 12-20 by University of Nevada, Las Vegas.