The latest Monmouth University poll in Missouri shows Republican Sen. Roy Blunt leading challenger Jason Kander by 2 points, down 3 points since its last survey in August.
The poll showed Blunt favored by 46 percent of likely Missouri voters and Kander, Missouri's secretary of state, with 44 percent.
The poll was conducted after a tape was leaked that showed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump making lewd remarks about women. Blunt maintained his support for Trump over the weekend, and the poll showed 46 percent of respondents said he should stand by his endorsement, compared to the 35 percent that said he should withdraw it.
"Many voters who could swing this election take a dim view of his Trump endorsement," said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute. "On the other hand, a significant portion of his base would not react well if the incumbent turned his back on their party's presidential nominee."
The gubernatorial race also tightened since Monmouth did its last poll in Missouri.
Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster holds a 46 percent to 43 percent lead over Republican political newcomer Eric Greitens, a former Navy SEAL.
Koster had an 11-point lead in August and the new poll showed Greitens gained ground among independents _ 42 percent supported Koster and 41 percent favored Greitens. Koster had a 49 percent to 37 percent led among independents in August.
In the presidential race, Republican nominee Donald Trump opened a 5-point lead, 46 percent to 41 percent, over Democrat Hillary Clinton. The race was virtually tied in August, 44 percent for Trump and 43 percent for Clinton.
Murray said Trump's crass 2005 remarks caught on an "Access Hollywood" hot mic hasn't had much of an impact.
"That's probably because few voters were actually surprised to hear Trump say these things," Murray said.
The poll found 35 percent of respondents feel what Trump said in the video makes him unfit for office. However, 51 percent say that what he said was inappropriate but not necessarily disqualifying.
The poll surveyed 406 Missouri residents likely to vote in November by telephone from Oct. 9 to Oct. 11. The poll has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.
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