FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - Republican candidate Rand Paul has increased his lead over Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway in the race for the state's open U.S. Senate seat, according to recent poll results.

SurveyUSA's latest poll has Paul ahead 55 percent to 40 percent, up from a lead of 51 percent to 43 percent in July.

The Republican has 56 percent support among independents and 32 percent among Democrats. Conway, meanwhile, holds 34 percent of independents and 13 percent of GOP voters.

The poll, conducted for the Louisville Courier-Journal and WHAS-TV, was administered last week.

The survey also found many men have turned their backs on the Democrats -- consistent with similar polls in other high-profile 2010 state contests, according to SurveyUSA.

Conway, the Democrat, got 44 percent of male voters in May, 38 percent in July and 31 percent in this most recent poll.

"The erosion in male support, observed in California polling and Washington state polling, is occurring regardless of whether there is a Tea Party candidate on the ballot," according to the polling company.

The two candidates are seeking the seat of retiring incumbent Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., this November.

Conway has consistently trailed Paul, an eye surgeon and the son of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, in polls this year. He came out of a divisive primary race against Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo in May, the same month Paul defeated Secretary of State Trey Grayson in the Republican primary despite party leaders backing Grayson.

SurveyUSA, based in New Jersey, interviewed 950 Kentucky adults Aug. 30 through Sept. 1. Of them, 863 were registered to vote. Of those registered, 561 were determined by SurveyUSA to be likely to vote in the November election.

From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by e-mail at jessica@legalnewsline.com.