New poll results released by the Cheri Bustos campaign show that the candidate is closing the gap between herself and incumbent U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling (R-Colona). The internal poll of 600 likely voters, which was conducted by GBA Strategies, found that the Bustos campaign is now within two points of Schilling at 45 percent to 47 percent, with a margin of error of 4 percent. In an internal poll conducted by the Schilling campaign last month, the Tea Party Republican was leading Bustos by 13 percent.

The Bustos campaign says the surge acts as evidence proving that residents of the district are beginning to see the difference between the candidates' priorities.

“Cheri Bustos’ plan to create jobs with tax incentives for companies who bring jobs back home is resonating throughout the 17th District,” said Bustos campaign manager Allison Jaslow. “Voters are learning that Congressman Schilling’s priorities are wrong for Illinois, and they don’t support his record of voting to raise out-of-pocket Medicare costs for seniors and to give tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas.”

Meanwhile, the Schilling campaign is describing the new poll numbers as "simply not reliable", according to the Quad City Times.