(RALEIGH) -- A new poll shows North Carolina Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton surging past Bob Etheridge in the Democratic race for governor. That's according to Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling.

"Walter Dalton seems to be running away with the Democratic primary for governor.  He has a 10 point lead now with 36 percent to 26 percent for Bob Etheridge with all of the other candidates with 5 percent or less," said Jensen.

Dalton's also caught up with Etheridge on the favorability front with 40 percent of primary voters having a favorable opinion of each of them.  Jensen said Dalton's gains have been gradual and consistent.

"Over the last three polls we've done Dalton has gone from 15 percent then to 26 percent and now to 36 percent.  At the same time that he has made that huge gain Bob Etheridge has just stayed right in place so the momentum completely going in Dalton's direction."

A number of high-profile North Carolina Democrats have now endorsed Etheridge. The endorsements come from State Sen. Dan Blue, Congressman G.K. Butterfield, Congressman David Price, former U.S. Senator Robert Morgan, former Congressman Tim Valentine, former Congresswoman Eva Clayton, and former mayor of Raleigh Charles Meeker.

While the endorsements are quite powerful for Etheridge, Jensen said they may be too little too late for Etheridge to mount a comeback.