Brown ties Shaheen in new poll

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) is tied with former Massachusetts Republican Sen. Scott Brown in a new survey of the New Hampshire Senate race — even though Brown hasn’t officially entered the race. 

{mosads}The survey, from bipartisan consulting firm Purple Strategies and first reported in The Boston Globe, gives both Shaheen and Brown 44 percent support among likely New Hampshire voters.

Shaheen leads Brown among women, 46 percent-38 percent, but Brown takes 51 percent of men and has a 9 percent lead with independents.

It’s the first survey of the race to show the two deadlocked and might be an indication that the barrage of negative attacks Shaheen has faced in recent weeks focused on her support for ObamaCare are beginning to take a toll.

Previous polls had shown Brown trailing Shaheen by single digits. Four other Republicans have already jumped into the race, but Brown’s considered Republicans’ best shot at taking down Shaheen.

He’s moved to New Hampshire and has been supporting the local Republican Party with fundraising help, sparking speculation he might run, but he hasn’t yet made his 2014 intentions clear.

The survey was conducted from Jan. 21-23 among 1,052 likely New Hampshire voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 points.