Shaheen vs. Sununu Race Tightens

While the recent poll showing Senator Obama with a slim lead in the state has made a splash, the University of New Hampshire released data today about another race between two candidates exclusive to New Hampshire. Former Governor Jeanne Shaheen has been pushing to claim Republican Senator John Sununu’s seat in Washington and the newly released poll indicate a close contest.

The poll shows that the race is getting closer. Back in July of last year, Shaheen had 54% of likely voters on her side and Sununu only 38% according to the poll center. Now, Shaheen has fallen to 46% and Sununu has risen to 42% in July of this year. What was once a 16 point lead has fallen to a 4 point lead.

The center reported that , “Shaheen runs strongest among Democrats, liberals, voters with high levels of education, young voters, and non-religious voters,” in a statement. It claimed that Sununu, “runs strongest among Republicans, conservatives, older voters, and voters with lower levels of education.”

Five-hundred-and-nineteen randomly selected NH adults were interviewed in mid-July for the poll.

Favorability ratings were also polled and Sununu rose from about 40% favorability to nearly 55% favorability since September of last year. Shaheen was at about 55% approval last September and has fallen to about 52%.

The full report can be viewed at The UNH Survey Center’s Website: http://www.unh.edu/survey-center/news/pdf/gsp2008_summer_cong72308.pdf