Republicans may find some parts of the latest NBC News/Marist poll on three of this cycle’s most competitive Senate races encouraging, but they may also find cause for concern in its results.

In Iowa, Republicans are seeing promising signs with Joni Ernst leading Representative Bruce Braley (D., Iowa) 46 percent to 44 percent among likely voters. Although the race is still within the margin of error, momentum appears to be on Ernst’s side, according to the poll’s findings.

Meanwhile, Senator Pat Roberts (R., Kan.) finds himself in a hole in his reelection bid against unexpected front-runner independent candidate Greg Orman. Orman, who has benefited from Democratic candidate Chad Taylor’s decision to withdraw last month, leads the incumbent 48 percent to 38 percent. The sudden turn of events in Kansas has shifted the race from a safe Republican seat to a “Toss Up” in the assessments of many political observers.

North Carolina, where Republicans are hoping to take down first-term incumbent Democratic senator Kay Hagan, continues to be competitive. Republican challenger Thom Tillis trails Hagan by four percentage points, 44 percent to 40 percent, almost within the margin of error. Hagan is one of a handful of red-state Democrats who are vulnerable this cycle.