Hodes gets best marks of possible 2010 candidates

Public Policy polling ^ | February 11, 2009 | Public Policy polling

[bilhosty]

A new survey of New Hampshire voters from Public Policy Polling finds that Democratic Congressman Paul Hodes is the strongest early Senate candidate for 2010, although the field of commonly discussed candidates is pretty evenly matched. Hodes has the best net favorability of the quarter polled at 42/34. Former Republican Senator John Sununu and Democratic Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter each receive a +3 rating from state voters with the former at 46/43 and the letter at 43/40. Former Republican Congressman Charlie Bass gets the poorest reviews at 33/37. Hodes leads hypothetical contests against Sununu 46-44 and against Bass 40-37. Shea- Porter narrowly trails each of her possible match ups, 46-45 to Sununu and 43-42 to Bass.

[bilhosty]

In spite of the headline. This is actually hopeful news. I figured the Dem's would be strongly ahead. With Obama in office two years from now the advantage might be to the GOP.

[yongin]

**With Obama in office two years from now the advantage might be to the GOP.***

Now that Obama is going to sign his stimulus plan in the next few days, he is going to own the economy. Although the majority is skeptical of the stimulus plan, they willing to support it to see if Obama can work some magic on the economy. If economic conditions improve in the 6 months, then we are finished. Socialism will be change Americans believe in. OTOH, if economic conditions worsen, then perhaps Americans will finally snap out of the Messiah worship.

[campaignPete R-CT]

http://politics1.com/nh.htm

hopefully there are other candidates. Four others are listed at this link with my comments ... I do not claim to be fully informed on these 4, but here goes:
Frank Guinta (R) - Manchester Mayor ... enjoys support from the Right.
Steve Merrill (R) - Ex-Governor & Ex-Attorney General ... conservative, but has his detractors.
Tom Rath (R) - Ex-Attorney General, Ex-RNC Member ... can we call him a RINO? not a movement conservatative.
John Stephen (R) ... strong support from pro-lifers. Doubtful he could get the nomination for Senate. Hopefully, he will be the next congressman.

[campaignPete R-CT]

Charlie Bass, major league pro-abort.

[MassachusettsGOP]

Kelly Ayotte (R)- Current Attorney General/Pro-Life/Conservative
John Sununu (R)- Fmr. Senator/Libertarian leaning Republican

I would push for either one of them. Sununu has name recognition, and while he bats .500 against Jeanne Shaheen, he has never lost an election to a non-ultra popular Former Governor. He can raise money and everyone in NH knows his family.

Kelly Ayotte is the future of the party in NH, and I think is waiting for the Governor's Office to open up, but would be a fascinating and attractive candidate for this seat as well.

[campaignPete R-CT]

looks like all of this is out the window now. Wonder what Hodes is going to do.

[yongin]

Hodes could still run. Gregg is going to have a big target on his back. The Obama worshippers will want to make Gregg into an example of what happens to people who dare diss the Messiah.

[MassachusettsGOP]

No No. This is not all out the window. Gregg said to reporter today that he was not running for re-election in 2010. So all this speculation will persist. He serves the rest of his term, and a usual open seat scenario is created. Hodes will definetly stick it out now.

This means that the GOP has a shot to win back this seat, contest Hodes' open House seat, and continue to attack the vulnerable Shea-Porter District.