Kelly Ayotte speaks to supporters at the Bonfire Country Bar in Manchester after she was declared the winner in the Republican primary for governor on Tuesday, Sept. 10. (Will Steinfeld | For the New Hampshire Bulletin)
The latest poll from the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College suggests voters continue to be open to splitting their ticket in November.
Vice President Kamala Harris led former President Donald Trump by seven percentage points in the poll results released Thursday evening, 51-44, a slight drop from her eight-point lead in September. Republican Kelly Ayotte, of Nashua, led Democrat Joyce Craig, of Manchester, by three points, 47-44, in the governor’s race.
The results had more good news for Ayotte. Her favorability ratings are up since September as Craig’s have dropped.
“… Ayotte has improved her standing somewhat among voters and is inching closer toward a majority in the race for governor,” Neil Levesque, executive director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, said in a statement.
While Democrats have made reproductive health a top campaign issue, the poll’s respondents named three other issues as more important: the economy/inflation, border security, and elections/democracy. Abortion has not been among respondents’ top three issues since July.
Asked to choose a candidate by the issues, respondents who named border security, the economy, and government spending as top issues chose Ayotte. Craig was the choice for respondents who put abortion, affordable housing, elections/democracy, health care, and gun regulations as key issues.
Democrats running for Congress “enjoy solid leads,” the poll said.
Congressman Chris Pappas led Republican Russell Prescott in the 1st Congressional District by nine points in the poll, 50-41. Democrat Maggie Goodlander is polling ahead of Republican Lily Tang Williams by 12 percentage points, 50-38, in the 2nd Congressional District.