New Hampshire's Senate Race: Can John E. Sununu's Town-by-Town Campaign Beat Chris Pappas' Star-Power Push?
Two October polls put Democrat Chris Pappas six to seven points ahead for the open Shaheen seat. Sununu is betting on independence, small-town retail politics and an outside-money ground game in the final five days.
By Clara Hughes
New Hampshire's open U.S. Senate race has become a study in contrasts. Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas has filled town halls with national Democratic headliners. Former Sen. John E. Sununu, the Republican nominee, has been shaking hands at dry cleaners and small airports. With five days left before the November 3 election, the polls favor Pappas — but both campaigns say the race will come down to turnout. Where the polls stand The two most recent public surveys point the same direction: Saint Anselm College Survey Center, October 19–20, 1,672 likely voters, margin of error ±2.4: Pappas 50%, Sununu 43%. Rasmussen Reports, October 20–23, 970 likely voters, margin of error ±3: Pappas 50%, Sununu 44%, with Constitution Party candidate LaPlante at 4% and Harris at 1%. Rasmussen's early-October survey had the race at 49% to 44%. The FutureBallot polling average shows a Democratic lead of roughly six points. That is a shift from late summer. A University of New Hampshire poll in August had Sununu ahead, 45% to 43%, and a co/efficient survey taken September 9–11 found the