Democrat Cheri Bustos is in a dead heat with U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Colona, in the 17th Congressional District, according to a new poll.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee poll of 400 likely voters conducted Oct. 2 to 4 put Ms. Bustos at 45 percent and Rep. Schilling at 44 percent.

President Obama has an 11-point lead in the new 17th District, according to the Anzalone Liszt Research poll, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent.

A poll released by the Schilling campaign in August had the Republican ahead by 13 points.

The DCCC poll found Ms. Bustos has made up ground with independents, among whom she trailed Rep. Schilling by 21 points in August. Rep. Schilling now has a two-point lead among independents, according to the poll.

The boundaries of the 17th District were redrawn after the 2010 census. The new district runs from Peoria in the south to Freeport in the north and includes all the Illinois Quad-Cities and part of Rockford.