Washington ( CNN ) -- Alaska 's Senate race is an increasingly prime pickup opportunity for Republicans , with Democratic Sen. Mark Begich trailing challenger Dan Sullivan by 6 percentage points , a new CNN/ORC International Poll shows . Sullivan earned 50 % support compared to 44 % for Begich , according to the survey of 704 likely voters that was conducted October 1-6 . The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 points . The race is key for Republicans who hope to gain control of the Senate by capturing at least six seats currently held by Democrats . It looks increasingly important as Democrats pump resources into states like Kansas and South Dakota that weeks ago looked like GOP locks . Hampering Begich are underwater favorability ratings , with 45 % of those surveyed offering a positive opinion of the first-term senator and 52 % saying they view him unfavorably . Sullivan , meanwhile , is viewed favorably by 53 % of Alaska 's likely voters , while 41 % say they have unfavorable opinions of the former state attorney general and current commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources . Sullivan leads Begich 50 % to 45 % in Anchorage , the city Begich previously led for two terms as mayor . Complete midterm election coverage . Perhaps more daunting for Begich : Unlike most Democrats , he fares no better among women ( 44 % ) than he does men ( 45 % ) . `` Begich is losing on his home turf , and he is not winning among women , a weakness that few Democrats can overcome on Election Day , '' said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland . Republicans could gain a Senate seat , but they look just as likely to lose the governor 's office . Independent Bill Walker looks positioned to knock off incumbent Republican Gov . Sean Parnell , leading 51 % to 45 % among likely voters -- with no Democratic candidate in the race to split the anti-Parnell votes . The party 's nominee , Byron Mallott , dropped out to become Walker 's running mate . Senate math seems impossible to some Democrats .
Democratic Sen. Mark Begich is trailing GOP challenger Dan Sullivan , 50 % -44 % . The poll was conducted from June 30 to July 1 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. GOP Gov . Sean Parnell trails his challenger by 6 % .