Rep. Paul Hodes (D) begins his New Hampshire Senate bid with a small lead over a prospective opponent, according to recent poll results.

Hodes led former GOP Sen. John Sununu 42 percent to 36 percent, with 22 percent of survey respondents undecided. Sen. Judd Gregg (R) has announced he is retiring at the end of his term, creating an open-seat contest in 2010.

Hodes is the only announced candidate so far in the race. Sununu, who lost re-election in 2008, has not publicly expressed interest in running for the Granite State’s other Senate seat, but many local Republicans view him as their best shot of holding the seat.

According to the American Research Group survey, Hodes and Sununu play similarly well with their political parties, but Hodes appears to have the edge with undeclared voters, leading in that category 38 percent to 31 percent, with another 31 percent undecided.

The poll surveyed 535 registered voters in the Granite State March 27-30, with a margin of error of 4 points.