Poll shows statistical tie in Montana Senate race

Montana Sen. Steve DainesSteven (Steve) David DainesGOP senator introduces constitutional amendment to ban flag burning Company officially nixes Keystone XL pipeline OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Biden ends infrastructure talks with key Republican | Colonial Pipeline CEO grilled over ransomware attack | Texas gov signs bills to improve power grid after winter storm MORE (R) and Gov. Steve BullockSteve BullockBiden 'allies' painting him into a corner Democratic Kansas City, Mo., mayor eyes Senate run Overnight Energy: Climate Summit Day 2 — Biden says US will work with other countries on climate innovation MORE (D) are in a dead heat in the state's Senate race, according to polling released Thursday by NBC Montana and Strategies 360.

The poll found Daines with 48 percent to Bullock’s 47 percent. Five percent were undecided. The survey also found 61 percent of respondents have already voted in the election. Mail-in ballots are an option for 45 of Montana’s 56 counties, and voters have already returned 289,422, or 45 percent, of those sent out.

The poll found an even tighter race for the state’s at-large House seat, with Republican candidate Matt Rosendale and Democratic candidate Kathleen Williams tied at 46 percent with 8 percent undecided.

New Strategies360/NBC Montana poll:

Trump 51
Biden 43

Senate
Daines (R-inc) 48
Bullock (D) 47

House
Rosendale (R) 46
Williams (D) 46

Gov
Gianforte (R) 48
Cooney (D) 41

(500 LVs, Oct 15-20, mixed mode, MoE 4.4%)https://t.co/8i4NR64EnS

— Jacob Rubashkin (@JacobRubashkin) October 22, 2020

The presidential race was less close but still within single digits, with President TrumpDonald TrumpWhat blue wave? A close look at Texas today tells of a different story Democrats go down to the wire with Manchin Trump's former bodyguard investigated in NY prosectors' probe: report MORE pulling 51 percent to Democratic nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenMilitary must better understand sexual assaults to combat them The Hill's Equilibrium — Presented by NextEra Energy — Tasmanian devil wipes out penguin population On The Money: Democrats make full-court press on expanded child tax credit | White House confident Congress will raise debt ceiling MORE’s 43 percent. Four percent were undecided, while 3 percent supported Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen.

In the state’s open gubernatorial race, Rep. Greg GianforteGregory Richard GianforteWolf hunting rules being eased in Montana despite population decline Montana governor donates first-quarter salary to drug treatment center States push back against federal unemployment policies delaying economic recovery MORE (R) leads Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney (D) 48 percent to 41 percent. Seven percent were undecided, while another 4 percent backed Libertarian candidate Lyman Bishop, according to the survey.

Pollsters surveyed 500 likely voters from Oct. 15-20. The survey has a 4.4-point margin of error.

The RealClear Politics average of Montana’s Senate race gives Daines a 2.8-point lead.