Less than two weeks to go before Election Day, a new poll shows Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., trails his Democratic opponent by a 5-point margin.  

In the survey conducted by a Democratic firm for the United Transportation Union , Terry trailed Democratic state Sen. Brad Ashford, 46 percent to 41 percent. A libertarian candidate, Steven Laird, drew 6 percent, while 7 percent remained undecided.  

Even worse for Terry? The poll found the eight-term Republican is less popular than President Barack Obama in the Omaha-based 2nd District. According to the poll, 39 percent of respondents had a favorable view of Obama, while 34 percent had a favorable view of Terry. This marks the first public survey since the National Republican Congressional Committee aired a negative ad  tying Ashford to Nikko Jenkins, a criminal convicted of murdering four people after an early release from prison.  

The survey was taken after the ad — widely viewed as Terry’s Hail Mary throw — had been on the air for five days.  

But GOP operatives argue the race is closer. Terry’s campaign said the poll under-sampled Republican voters and over-sampled independents in the district. The survey pool included 31 percent Democrats, 33 percent Republicans and 36 percent independents.  

The head-to-head poll surveyed 365 likely voters with a mix of automated surveys and live cellphone calls between Oct. 21 and Oct. 25. It has a margin of error of 5.1 percent.  

It was conducted by DFM , a Minnesota-based polling firm that polled for North Dakota Democrats in 2012.  

Democrats have poured millions into the race, hitting Terry on comments he made during last year’s government shutdown , when he vowed to keep his paycheck, even as federal employees feared losing their own.  

Terry later apologized for the remarks, but the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and House Majority PAC, a group that supports House Democrats, blasted them over the airwaves .  

Nebraska’s 2nd District  is rated a Tossup  contest by the Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.  

Related Stories:

Meet the House Republican Still Sweating the Shutdown


NRCC Throws Hail Mary in Nebraska House Race (Video)


Are These 10 Vulnerable Members Lucky or Good?


For House GOP, a Wave … Or a Trickle?


A Good Year May Not Save These Three Vulnerable House Republicans


Roll Call Election Map: Race Ratings for Every Seat


Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call in your inbox or on your iPhone.