ATLANTA — A new poll out this morning shows Gov. Brian Kemp with a significant lead over Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams. It also shows a tight race between Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican nominee Herschel Walker.

The poll was taken before new abortion allegations surfaced against Walker.

According to the latest Atlanta Journal-Constitution and University of Georgia poll, Kemp appears to have a significant lead Abrams.

The poll of more than a thousand respondents taken between Sept. 25 and Oct. 4 shows Kemp with a 51% to 41% lead over Abrams. Libertarian candidate Shane Hazel is polling at 2% and 6% are undecided.

With the general election less than a month away, the new poll shows Abrams has some work to do make up ground. Kemp’s lead in the previous AJC September poll was 8.

In the U.S. Senate race, the poll shows incumbent Warnock leading Walker in the race 46.4% to 43.4%, which is still within the poll’s 3.1% margin of error.

With Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver polling at 4.1% and 6.1% undecided, there is a real possibility of a runoff between Walker and Warnock in December.

The dates UGA conducted the polling is important in the race for U.S. Senate. Most of the polling happened before new allegations surfaced against Walker that he paid for the mother of one of his children to get an abortion, despite saying that he opposes abortion in all instances.

In the survey conducted, 61% of respondents said they do not support Georgia’s 2019 law that bans abortions after a heartbeat is detected.

Forty-seven percent said that protecting abortion rights would factor into their decision this election. Eighteen percent said abortion would not influence their vote and 29% said they would support candidates who would limit abortion access.

AJC-UGA POLL (1030 respondents between Sept. 25th-Oct. 4th)

Governor’s Race

• Kemp (R): 51%
• Abrams (D): 41%
• Hazel (L): 2.3%
• Undecided: 6%
• Margin of error: 3.1%

U.S. Senate Race

• Warnock (D): 46.4%
• Walker (R): 43.4%
• Oliver (L): 4.1%
• Undecided: 6.1%
• Margin of error: 3.1%

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