Rockingham District Attorney Phil Berger Jr. is just a few points shy of avoiding a runoff in a competitive GOP primary  for an open House seat in North Carolina, according to an internal poll conducted for his campaign and provided first to CQ Roll Call.  

According to the poll, Berger led the GOP field with 36 percent in the 6th District. A candidate must get 40 percent of the vote in the May 6 primary to avoid a runoff in the Tar Heel State.  

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The survey showed Baptist Pastor Mark Walker with 14 percent; international banker Bruce VonCannon and Greensboro City Councilmember Zack Matheny were tied with 6 percent each.  

The rest of the candidates in the field received less than 6 percent, another 26 percent of survey respondents said they were undecided in the race.  

The poll, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, surveyed 300 likely Republican primary voters from April 8-10. It had a margin of error of 5.7 points.  

Nine Republicans are running in the primary. The seat is open this cycle because Rep. Howard Coble is retiring
.  

A runoff would be held on July 15.  

Former University of North Carolina Administrator Laura Fjeld is vying for the Democratic nomination in the contest. But the district is an uphill climb for a Democrat. GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney won it in 2012 with 58 percent.  

North Carolina’s 6th District is rated a Safe Republican contest by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.