New Hampshire: Hodes Runs Well; Senate Race Wide Open
An early poll just released in the 2010 Senate race showed a wide-open contest, although Democrats appear to have a solid shot at capturing the open seat.
Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) is expected to be confirmed later this month to be Commerce secretary and his appointed replacement is not expected to run for a full term in 2010. Rep. Paul Hodes (D) declared he is running for Senate soon after Greggs appointment was announced.
According to automated survey results from Public Policy Polling, a North Carolina-based Democratic firm, Hodes had a statistically insignificant lead over former Rep. Charlie Bass (R) and former Sen. John Sununu (R) in hypothetical matchups.
Hodes led Bass, 40 percent to 37 percent, with 23 percent undecided. The Democratic Congressman led Sununu, 46 percent to 44 percent, with 10 percent undecided.
Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D) is also mentioned as a possible Senate candidate, and the poll results showed her within the margin of error against both Republicans.
Bass led Shea-Porter, 43 percent to 42 percent, with 15 percent undecided. Sununu also led Shea-Porter by a single point, 45 percent to 46 percent, with 9 percent undecided.
The automated poll of 1,326 Granite State voters was taken Feb. 6-8. The survey had a margin of error of 2.7 points.