An Elon University poll out last week suggested that about one-third of North Carolina adults are certain to pick Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R) for re-election next year. But only 26 percent said they would definitely vote against her.

The automated poll, conducted Sept. 24-27, surveyed 664 adults and had a margin of error of 3.88 points. Earlier this year, a Democratic poll showed that only 35 percent of voters would re-elect Dole, though Republican polls of shown her in much better shape.

The Democrats have not yet recruited a challenger into the race with Dole. Asked who “the best candidate” to oppose Dole would be, 8.2 percent of Democrats surveyed answered state Attorney General Roy Cooper, 7.5 percent answered Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and 5.6 percent answered state Treasurer Richard Moore.

Asked whether they would prefer Moore or Perdue — who are competing in the 2008 Democratic primary for governor — to run against Dole, 31 percent of Democrats answered Moore, and 27 percent said Perdue. In a matchup of the Democratic gubernatorial primary, Perdue led Moore 35 percent to 27 percent.

The error margin for the Democrats-only portion of the survey was 7.7 points.

— Matthew Murray