Poll: Ayotte neck and neck with Hodes in N.H.

Rep. Paul Hodes (D) and New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte (R) are in a statistical dead heat in the race for retiring Sen. Judd Gregg’s (R) Senate seat, according to a new poll.

The DailyKos/Research2000 poll found Ayotte leading Hodes 39 percent to 38 percent.

Ayotte performed best against Hodes of the two Republicans tested in the survey. Former Rep. Charlie Bass (R), who has said he is considering the race, trailed Hodes by a 42 percent to 37 percent margin.

Hodes and Ayotte’s favorability numbers were also similar. Thirty-four percent view Hodes favorably, while 21 percent view him unfavorably and 45 percent have no opinion.

Thirty-six percent have a favorable view of Ayotte, while only 13 percent view her unfavorably and a majority – 51 percent – don’t know enough for form an opinion.

The poll is another sign that New Hampshire will be a major battle ground again in 2010. Earlier this month, Ayotte led Hodes 39 percent to 35 percent in a Granite State poll.

There was a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent in the DailyKos/Research2000 poll.

jeremy.jacobs@digital-stage.thehill.com