Georgia Senate Race Polls 2014 Update: Democrat Michelle Nunn, Republican David Perdue Secure Slim Lead in Different, New Polls

Georgia's U.S. Senate race could enter a runoff in January as polls indicate the Democratic and Republican candidates in a statistical dead heat. New polls have shown both candidates in the lead.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) released its survey results, and the candidates did not receive more than 50 percent needed to avoid the runoff election. The AJC survey, conducted by Abt SRBI of New York, has Republican candidate David Perdue ahead with 44 percent, while Democratic candidate Michelle Nunn received 32 percent among likely voters. The Libertarian candidate, Amanda Swafford, was also an option for the poll and received 6 percent.

The AJC poll comprised on 1,170 Georgians with a margin of error of 3.6 percent.

CNN and ORC International also released its own survey results and showed mixed results compared to AJC's poll. The CNN survey has Nunn leading, but the percentage lead is also narrow. Nunn received 47 percent while 44 percent went for Perdue, which still isn't enough for the 50 percent threshold to avoid the runoff election. Swafford was also an option in the CNN and ORC International poll and received 5 percent of the poll.

"The Georgia electorate appears to be the most pro-Obama group of likely voters in the 11 states CNN has surveyed this fall," CNN polling director Keating Holland said. "That's not saying much -- Obama's approval rating among Georgia likely voters is only 44 percent. But that's still better than the high-30s he gets in states like Iowa and new Hampshire, not to mention the low 30s in Kansas and Alaska."

Despite the Nunn's slim lead against Perdue, Holland said the Democratic candidate has shown a "surprising show of strength" despite no Democrat winning a statewide election in Georgia in more than a decade.

The survey polled respondents on the potential runoff only between Nunn and Perdue. The results still presented a narrow margin of victory for Nunn with 51 percent to 47 percent for Perdue.

"But the poll's likely voter model can only estimate the November electorate, as a runoff election can draw a smaller and different crowd than the general election," CNN's Ashley Killough noted.

Based on Real Clear Politics' average of several polls released between Oct. 2 and Oct. 22, Nunn has a 0.5 lead over Perdue with 45.6 percent to 45.1 percent, respectively.