A new Public Policy Polling poll shows Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin ahead of Republican senate candidate John Raese, 50 percent to 44 percent.

Manchin’s ratings for his job performance as governor continues to be high, with 69 percent approving. President Obama continues to have very low ratings, with only 31 percent approving of him.

“The reason this race has remained close despite Manchin’s overwhelming popularity is that for the folks who both like Manchin and dislike Obama, accounting for 37 percent of voters in the state, the feelings toward Obama have been more influential in how they plan to vote. In early October Manchin trailed 59-34 with that group. Now though, as he’s emphasized his conservative credentials on the campaign trail, Manchin is facing only a 51-43 deficit with that segment of the electorate,” said PPP’s Tom Jensen in a statement.

Jensen also pointed out that Raese’s unfavorability ratings have risen from 35 percent to 47 percent. He is viewed favorably by 42 percent.

And while Raese may be falling behind, 52 percent of voters hope that Republicans will control the next congress. Fifty-five percent think that the national Democratic party is too liberal, while 19 percent think the same of the GOP. Thirty-two percent of voters think the Democratic party is neither too liberal nor too conservative, a sentiment shared by 42 percent about the Republican party.

And while 39 percent would prefer Manchin as senator, 48 percent like him better as governor.

In recent weeks, Manchin has aggressively positioned himself to the right, coming out in favor of a partial repeal of President Obama’s health-care bill, after supporting passing it this March, talking about how he would never support cap-and-trade, and most recently, in interviews with Politics Daily, refusing to definitively endorse Sen. Harry Reid for senate majority leader or President Obama for 2012.