The man hoping to oust incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee is leading in two new polls released today.

Democratic challenger Sheldon Whitehouse has a 10-point lead in the poll conducted by the national independent pollster Rasmussen Reports. He leads Chafee 49 percent to 39 percent with 8 percent undecided and 4 percent supporting other candidates.

A separate poll released by Rhode Island College's Bureau of Government Research and Services found that Whitehouse leads by 3 percentage points, 40 percent to 37 percent with 23 percent undecided.

Both polls have a margin of error of 4.5 percentage points. Rasmussen surveyed 500 likely voters on Oct. 4. RIC surveyed 459 registered voters Oct. 2 and Oct. 4.

The race is being watched nationally because it is one of a handful whose outcome could affect the balance of Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate. The election is four weeks away.