A new WMUR/CNN poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center shows Republican Senator John Sununu, a desperately out-of-touch enabler of the Bush Administration, performing badly in a series of hypothetical Senate match-ups:
Jeanne Shaheen (D): 54
John E. Sununu (R): 38Steve Marchand (D): 38
John E. Sununu (R): 42Katrina Swett (D): 39
John E. Sununu (R): 43Jay Buckey (D): 28
John E. Sununu (R): 44MoE: ± 4.3%
You can view the full polling memo in PDF format here. While it is yet another poll showing Shaheen with a commanding lead over the floundering incumbent, challengers Swett and Marchand have a lot to be pleased about with this poll, too. Despite having much smaller profiles than Shaheen (a former Governor), Sununu is mired in the low-40s: extremely dangerous territory for an incumbent to be. Whether Shaheen mounts a bid or not (and I’d still be surprised if she didn’t, at this point), Sununu has set course for a world of hurt next year.
A big hat-tip to Dean over at Blue Hampshire.
voting against the environment, (his LCV lifetime score is in the low forties), has hurt him, as has voting against Stem cell research twice, the only Republican congressman in the state to do so, even when all four were Republicans. This is not Georgia, but New Hampshire. If Trent Lott and Judd Gregg support it, what? NH is probably around 69% in favor of Stem Cell research. He’s also stringently anti-choice, getting a lifetime score of 0% from both Planned Parenthood and the NARAL, NH is also strongly pro-choice like most states outside of the bible belt. This, and his unwavering backing of President Bush and support of the Iraq War are going to cost him this election. Out of all the competitive races, this one, second to Colorado, is the one I want to win the most, (and Colorado more only becuase the GOP has secured the nomination for highly conservative far right bob Schaffer.
by a single digit lead. Despite the fact Sununu is a household name in NH.
CO and NH are Democratic Pick ups.
This is great news!!!! It shows that any of our top-tier candidates has the potential to topple Sununu. At this point, I personally hope Shaheen stays out of it. Yes, she’s a household name and a former governor and all, but back in 2003, she was in favor of the war. And it’ll be difficult for her to hang the war around Sununu’s neck when he can turn around and say, “You were in favor of invasion, too.” Yes, they differ on the nuances . . . but, as we saw in 2004, nuance doesn’t play well in politics. And, yes, the Granite State is different from the country at large, but even a small, politically-aware state isn’t going to tune into every little nuance of a campaign. So, with that in mind, I’m hoping Marchand is our candidate. Shaheen can only go down; Marchand has room to skyrocket!