Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., is trailing her Democratic rival, Gov. Maggie Hassan, by 10 points in what has been one of the tightest Senate races in the country, according to a new poll from WBUR Radio.
The poll, which was conducted between July 19 and Aug. 1, shows 50 percent of respondents saying they would vote for Hassan if the election were held today, compared with 40 percent for Ayotte. Ayotte is one of the most vulnerable GOP senators up for re-election in a year in which Republicans can afford to lose only three seats if they hope to maintain control of the Senate.
The boost for Hassan also mirrors the surging popularity of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire. Clinton leads Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump 47 to 32 in the state, according to the same poll. Her favorability rating also climbed to 45 percent from 35 percent in May. Meanwhile, Trump’s favorability fell from 33 to 29 percent.
Democrats were happy to blame Trump for Ayotte’s decline.
Ayotte has long said she will vote for the GOP nominee, despite criticizing Trump for his feud with the parents of Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq in 2004.
Trump responded by bashing her as a weak and disloyal leader, comments that have not dissuaded Ayotte from backing him, according to aides.
Ayotte aides declined to comment.