A new poll from Public Policy Polling indicates the U.S. Senate has tightened to a statistical dead heat.
According to the poll conducted Oct. 17 and 18 among 718 likely voters, Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont has taken a slight lead over former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, of Zionsville,  the Republican candidate.
Toomey was soundly beating Sestak in an August Public Policy Polling survey 45 percent to 36 percent. The latest poll, with a 3.7 percent margin of error, indicates Sestak is now leading 46 percent to 45 percent with another 9 percent undecided.
Respondents were split 48 percent Democratic and 41 percent Republican, with 11 percent independent or third party. Forty-four percent of those polled described themselves as moderate, while 37 percent said they were “conservative” and 19 percent identified themselves as “liberal.”
Sestak was viewed favorably by 43 percent of respondents, while 39 percent had an unfavorable view. Another 19 percent were unsure.
Toomey’s favorability rating was evenly split at 41 percent, with 18 percent unsure.
Both Public Policy Polling and ABC News now characterize the race as a “toss-up.”
“No one would have expected that a month ago, but just as he did in the primary, Joe Sestak is closing strong,” said Public Policy Polling President Dean Debnam in a release accompanying the poll.