The latest public poll numbers to be reported on the U.S. Senate race in Kentucky show the gap between incumbent U.S. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) and businessman Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) quickly slamming shut, with Lunsford narrowing McConnell's lead to just three points in a new SurveyUSA poll, according to WHAS-TV's Mark Hebert.

The poll - commissioned by Hebert's outlet - gives McConnell a 49 to 46 percent lead over Lunsford, down from a 52 to 40 percent lead recorded by the same firm just last month.

Hebert reports voters concerned about the economy have dramatically shifted to Lunsford's side. 6 in 10 voters reportedly tabbed the economy as the issue of chief concern, a figure that is not surprising given the latest turbulence among formerly revered American financial institutions. Among these voters, Lunsford holds a nine point advantage.

The poll represents a stark reversal from figures released last week from a Research 2000 poll commissioned by the left-leaning blog Daily Kos. That survey gave McConnell a 13 point lead.

Updated, 3:36pm: The figures are the best-looking for Lunsford from SurveyUSA since a mid-June poll put him within 2 of McConnell. The poll, conducted on Sunday and Monday of this week, comes after the news of expanded government bailouts and a major campaign event for Lunsford - two appearances by U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) on the campaign trail on Lunsford's behalf.

One demographic where Lunsford gained most is among female voters, drawing to tie McConnell at 47 percent each. In the firm's August poll, women favored McConnell at a pace of 52 to 41 percent.

Geographically, the Democrat jumped forward ten points since August in western Kentucky, cutting McConnell's lead there to eleven percent. In northern and central Kentucky, McConnell's lead is down to two, when it had been 12 at last measure by SurveyUSA.

Eastern Kentucky - where Clinton stopped on Saturday in Pikeville - saw a massive boost for Lunsford, as he sliced the 26 point McConnell lead from August into an eleven point advantage for the Republican today.

Lunsford's lead among young voters, however, has eroded slightly according to the poll. Though the Democrat enjoyed a five point lead in August among 18-34 year olds, McConnell has now pulled out to a one point advantage, 47 to 46 percent.

Among other age groups, though, Lunsford gains, jumping eight points among those aged 65 or older, seven among those 50 to 64 years old, and seven among 35 to 49 year olds.

The margin of error on the polls general results stands at plus or minus 3.9 percent, though for some of the demographic categories, the margin rises upwards of plus or minus eight percent.

672 likely voters were polled by SurveyUSA for the latest poll.