Two polls show a tight race in the May 18 special election for the seat of the late Rep. John Murtha (D).

A Public Policy Polling survey showed businessman Tim Burns leading Murtha aide Mark Critz, 44 percent to 41 percent.

And in a polling memo paid for by the conservative American Action Network and conducted by GOP pollster McLaughlin and Associates, Critz and Burns are in a statistical tie, 40 percent to 39 percent.

The PPP survey took the opinions of 1,197 likely voters April 17-18 and had a margin of error of 2.8 points. The April 15 McLaughlin and Associates poll surveyed 300 likely voters and had a margin of error of 5.6 points.