Former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D) held a comfortable 17-point lead over Sen. John Sununu (R) in the most recent Granite State Poll, which was released by the University of New Hampshire on Monday.

Shaheen led the first-term Senator 54 percent to 37 percent, with only 7 percent of those surveyed undecided. The survey interviewed 555 randomly selected adults Jan. 18-27. The margin of error was 4.2 points.

According to the University of New Hampshire, these numbers have not changed since July. Sununu defeated Shaheen by 4 points in their first meeting in 2002.

“Clearly New Hampshire’s political environment is much friendlier to Jeanne Shaheen in her second try for the U.S. Senate,” said University of New Hampshire political scientist Dante Scala.

The poll also showed Sununu with a favorability rating of 46 percent, with 35 of those polled expressing an unfavorable opinion of him. Shaheen had a 57 percent favorable opinion and a 23 percent unfavorable rating.

National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Rebecca Fisher said the GOP expects Sununu to win. “We knew this race was going to be competitive, but we are confident that Sen. Sununu has the advantage and will win in November,” Fisher said.
— Shira Toeplitz