Raleigh, N.C. — Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory has edged ahead of Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue in the gubernatorial race with less than five weeks until the election, according to a new WRAL News poll.

Polling firm Rasmussen Reports surveyed 700 likely voters statewide Tuesday and found that McCrory, the Republican candidate, holds a 50 to 46 percent lead over Perdue, the Democratic candidate. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The poll reverses the findings of a WRAL News poll taken in August, when Perdue held a 6-point lead. An Elon University poll released last month also showed the two candidates in a virtual dead heat, as did Thursday's results.

McCrory holds a decisive lead among independent voters, 61 to 33 percent, and there is a growing gender gap among voters.

Fifty-eight percent of men support McCrory, compared with 38 percent for Perdue, while Perdue holds a 52 to 44 percent lead among female voters. In the WRAL News poll two months ago, Perdue held a 54 to 39 percent lead among women, while McCrory led 50 to 42 percent among male voters.

The only segments of voters where Perdue holds a lead, according to the poll, are those under age 30, unmarried voters and those making either less than $20,000 or between $60,000 and $75,000 a year.