Republican Nathan Deal holds a narrow lead over Democrat Roy Barnes in the race for the Georgia governorship, according to a new InsiderAdvantage/WSB-TV poll.

Deal, who won a fierce Republican primary over former Secretary of State Karen Handel on August 10, leads Barnes 45-41, with 5 percent going to Libertarian candidate John Monds and 9 percent remaining undecided.

InsiderAdvantage CEO Matt Towery says independent voters may prove decisive in November. "Interestingly enough, Roy Barnes and Nathan Deal are splitting independents virtually even," said Towery. "So that's where the battleground is going to be. If one of those candidates can take control of those independent voters, then they have a good shot at winning."

Barnes is looking to reclaim his old job. He served one term as governor before being ousted by Republican Sonny Perdue in 2002. Perdue is term-limited this year.

In the Georgia Senate race, incumbent Republican Johnny Isakson holds a 47-35 lead over Democratic Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond.

InsiderAdvantage surveyed 554 registered Georgia voters on Wednesday. The poll has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

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