Another Poll Shows Hodes Losing to Ayotte and Binnie

Yet another public poll is showing that Paul Hodes is losing to 2 of  his Republican opponents in head to head match ups.  This is according to an automated Public Policy Polling poll of 1474 New Hampshire voters conducted April 17 and 18.  It carries a margin of error of +/- 2.6%.

The poll essentially confirms what recent polling has said: Paul Hodes is dead in the water and multiple candidates, and also passes along some tidbits which should send the NHDP high command into full panic mode.

The poll shows that both former NH Attorney General Kelly Ayotte and Rye businessman Bill Binnie beating Hodes in a head to head.  While Hodes does lead Hollis businessman Jim Bender and Manchester attorney Ovide Lamontagne, it is by margins that should have Team Hodes quite concerned and give some hope to the Binnie and Lamontagne camps.

Our first look in 2010 at the New Hampshire Senate race confirms what all the other polling shows- Republican front runner Kelly Ayotte has a solid early lead over Democratic candidate Paul Hodes, 47-40.

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Hodes also trails Bill Binnie 46-41, but leads Jim Bender 43-40 and Ovide Lamontagne 43-38. Republican primary numbers that will be released tomorrow confirm that Ayotte is the clear front runner for her party’s nomination.

If that wasn’t enough the poll also has some bad news for Hodes in his home district, even worse news in the more conservative First District, and amongst self describes independent voters.

What it all adds up to is Ayotte leading Hodes 49-34 with independents and picking up 15% of the Democratic vote while Hodes gets just 7% of the Republican vote. Ayotte even leads 47-42 in Hodes’ Congressional district while holding a wider 49-37 advantage in Carol Shea-Porter’s.

This is simply horrible news for the Hodes campaign.  Yes, its still early in the campaign.  But, if his numbers maintain at this level how long until National Dems start closing their checkbooks to attend his inside the Beltway fundraisers and stop bankrolling his campaign.  Its becoming more and more clear that Hodes is dead in the water and is not having any luck to gain some traction.

Here is the full poll with crosstabs:
PPP Release NH 420