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Despite political winds blowing against Democrats, new polls show the partys Senate candidates holding their own in key races in Iowa and Arkansas.

A Suffolk University poll in Iowa shows Democratic Rep. Bruce Braleyahead of a leading candidate in thecrowded field of Republican candidates, retired businessman Mark Jacobs, by a 37%-31% margin. Mr. Braley led state Sen. Joni Ernst, Mr Jacobs principal competitor for the GOP nomination, by a 38%-30% margin, according to the poll released Wednesday.

That is in line with the average of recent polls tallied by Real Clear Politics, but is the first poll the website has tracked showing Mr. Braley dropping below 40%. Republicans have been trying to tarnish Mr. Braley over the last month by publicizing a video in which he appeared to scoff at farmers, a vital constituency in the Hawkeye State, while speaking at a fundraiser.

Many Democrats across the country have been struggling in recent months because of President Barack Obamas depressed approval ratings and problems in the rollout of his signature health-care law.

In Arkansas, where Mr. Obama and the health law are especially unpopular, a Talk Business-Hendrix College Poll released this week found that embattled Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor held a 46%-43% lead over his GOP opponent, Rep. Tom Cotton. That is within the polls margin of error, but it is the first time since October that Real Clear Politics has reported a poll showing Mr. Pryor even nominally in the lead.

Brad Dayspring, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said that in Iowa and Arkansas, Republican candidates have more room to grow their support among voters because they are still becoming known in their states. Mr. Cotton is less well-known than Mr. Pryor, and Republicans in Iowa will gain more traction after the states June 3 primary, Mr. Dayspring said.

But Democrats welcomed signs that Mr. Pryor and other Democratic candidates were holding their own in spite of a deluge of attack ads by outside conservative groups and financiers.

Its clear that Republican Senate candidates across the country are paying a price for their reckless and irresponsible embrace of a special interest agenda thats good for billionaires like the Koch Brothers and bad for middle-class families in their states, said Justin Barasky, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

The Suffolk University poll also tested the strength of would-be 2016 presidential candidates in Iowa, which holds the nations first nominating caucuses. Among Democrats, former Secretary of StateHillary Clinton was the far-away leader, cited as first choice by 63% of self-described Democratic caucus-goers, followed by 12% who chose Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D, Mass.) and 10% who chose Vice President Joe Biden.

Among the large field of potential GOP candidates, support was spread wide and thin: Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was the first choice of 11%, and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush followed with 10% each.

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Democrats in Iowa, Arkansas Hold Their Own, Polls Find