McConnell trailing Alison Lundergan Grimes in poll:

[Are_grits_groceries]

@TheAtlanticPOL: Mitch McConnell trailing Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, 45-44
<snip>
Assuming McConnell knocks off Bevin, however, he'll face a second challenge from Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, the Kentucky secretary of state. A poll by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, conducted for the liberal Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America and out this morning, suggests Grimes will give McConnell a run for his money. Not only is the senator's approval underwater, he also trails Grimes head-to-head:

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Republican Mitch McConnell is handling his job as U.S. Senator?

Approve .......................................................... 40%
Disapprove...................................................... 51%
No opinion....................................................... 9%
(Asked of 1,210 Kentucky voters MOE 2.8%)

If the general election for U.S. Senate were held today, and the choices were Republican Mitch McConnell and Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, for whom would you vote?

Mitch McConnell ............................................. 44%
Alison Lundergan Grimes ............................... 45%
Undecided....................................................... 11%
(Asked of 1,210 Kentucky voters MOE 2.8%)

That follows on previous polls that showed a tight race, though previous ones have never shown her leading. In April, PPP found McConnell leading Grimes 45-41, while a late May poll by the same firm found them tied up at 45. PPP had a stellar record in 2012, despite their partisan affiliation. On the other hand, it's well within the margin of error, and a Republican firm found McConnell up eight points, 48-40, just last week.

But this is the first poll since Grimes' official campaign launch. Her soft launch was widely derided -- when she announced she would run, Grimes didn't even have a website -- but she held a formal event to jump into the race Wednesday.

Back on July 1, Nate Silver examined the race and found McConnell a favorite but not a slam dunk for reelection. But Grimes has the potential to be a formidable candidate, as Dave Catanese pointed out here earlier this month. Though she's only run for office once, she upset a Democratic incumbent and sailed to victory, and her father is a powerhouse in state circles -- and a friend of Bill Clinton's. Poll numbers like this only reinforce how serious McConnell's challenge is.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/08/a-new-poll-suggests-trouble-for-mitch-mcconnell/278257/

Extremely early, but good not to start from way behind.

[Blue Owl]

1. See you in hell McConnell

n/t

[Dawson Leery]

2. Seeing the accuarcy of PPP polls, McConnell is in trouble.