The New Hampshire Senate Race

A May 11th Rasmussen survey of New Hampshire likely voters has Republicans Kelly Ayotte and Bill Binnie both leading Democrat Paul Hodes by 12 points in the race to win the Senate seat about to vacated by the retiring Judd Gregg. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in New Hampshire shows former state Attorney General Kelly Ayotte at 50% for the second month in a row, with Hodes earning 38% support. Three percent (3%) favor some other candidate, and nine percent(9%) are undecided. Businessman Bill Binnie chalks up 49% support, same as in April, versus 37% for Hodes, a U.S. congressman since 2007. Six percent (6%) like another candidate, while eight percent (8%) are undecided.

Kelly Ayotte Bill Binnie

In the meantime two other Republican hopefuls trail Hodes in the polls. Hodes, who is unchallenged for the Democratic Senate nomination, runs slightly stronger against two other GOP hopefuls. Attorney Ovide Lamontagne now trails Hodes who posts a 43% to 38% lead in that match-up. Last month, following Hodes’ vote to pass the national health care bill, was the only time Lamontagne has moved ahead of the Democrat. Hodes leads another Republican, businessman Jim Bender, but it’s a near tie - 41% to 39% While I could support any of the Republican candidates, the most important issue in this election cycle is defeating Democrats.  That drives my support towards either Ayotte or Binnie.  Libertarian leaning Republican that I am, I lean toward the outsider over the traditional candidate.  Kelly Ayotte is the traditional candidate on the Republican side, logging time as New Hampshire's Attorney General before launching her Senate bid.  Bill Binnie comes to this race from the business world.  He's the outsider and that makes him the better choice in my view. But this is no time to be a purist.  I will support either Kelly Ayotte or Bill Binnie because the most important issue this year is taking the gavels away from Reid and Pelosi.  Their leadership in the House and Senate has been a disaster for America.