Rep. Dan Lungren (R) is ahead by 8 points in a poll released Wednesday by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling. The poll offers mixed news for Lungren, who took 46 percent to 38 percent for Democrat Ami Bera. Lungren leads his rival but remains under 50 percent with less than six weeks to go before the elections.

The survey, conducted for the liberal website Daily Kos, was taken of likely voters Sept 18-19 with a 3.9-point margin of error.

Bera released his first television ad last week, a few days before the pollster surveyed the district, one of a just few GOP districts nationwide that Democrats hope to pick up. It was a negative spot aimed at Lungren.

Bera also held a $340,000 edge in cash on hand at the end of June.

While President Barack Obama won the Sacramento-area 3rd district by about 1,600 votes in 2008, it has a Republican voter-registration advantage, and the district gave President George W. Bush a 17-point win in 2004.