Raleigh, N.C. – While neighboring Maine narrowly rejected legalized same-sex marriage in 2009, a majority are prepared to support it in New Hampshire. 51% feel same sex marriage should be legal, compared to only 38% who feel it should be illegal. New Hampshire’s libertarian tendencies show in that, unlike most states, Democrats are more united for legal same-sex marriage, 77-16, than Republicans are against it, 24-63. Voters also prefer same-sex marriage when civil unions are included, with 45% favoring marriage, 35% favoring civil unions, and 19% opposing all recognition.

Both of New Hampshire’s senators are well known, but only moderately popular. 47% approve of Jeanne Shaheen’s performance, compared to 42% who disapprove. This is a considerable slide from her 50-36 rating in April. Similarly, 44% approve of Kelly Ayotte, while 38% disapprove (46-34 in April).

After voting out small Democratic majorities in the New Hampshire House and Senate in favor of enormous Republican ones in 2010, New Hampshire voters are having second thoughts. The Democrats now lead the legislative ballot 48-45. This represents a tightening from their 49-41 lead in April. This is due to a drop in Democratic support among independents who favor the Democrats 42-41 now compared to 46-34 in April.

2016 is a long way away, but New Hampshire Democrats already have a successor to Obama in mind. 52% choose Hillary Clinton for president in 2016, while 16% choose Joe Biden, 9% choose Andrew Cuomo, 3% choose Russ Feingold, 2% choose Deval Patrick, 1% choose Cory Booker, and 0% choose Mark Warner and Brian Schweitzer. If Clinton decides not to make another run for the White House, the race would be more open. Riding on the heels of New York’s legalizing same-sex marriage, Cuomo leads with 30% to 18% for Feingold, 13% for Patrick, 2% for Booker and Warner, and 1% for Schweitzer.

PPP surveyed 662 New Hampshire voters, including 312 Democratic primary voters, from June 30^th to July 5^th. No interviews were conducted on July 3^rd or 4^th.The margin of error for the overall survey is +/-3.8% and for the Democrats it’s +/-5.6%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company, but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.

Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Jeanne Shaheen’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 47%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 42%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%

Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Kelly
Ayotte’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 44%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 38%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%

Q3 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 51%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 38%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%

Q4 Which of the following best describes your
opinion on gay marriage: gay couples should
be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples
should be allowed to form civil unions but not
legally marry, or there should be no legal
recognition of a gay couple’s relationship?
Gay couples should be allowed to legally
marry …………………………………………………….. 45%
Gay couples should be allowed to form civil
unions but not marry ………………………………… 35%
There should be no legal recognition of a gay
couple’s relationship ………………………………… 19%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 1%

Q5 If there was an election today for the state
legislature would you be more likely to vote for
Democratic or Republican candidates?
Democrats ……………………………………………… 48%
Republicans ……………………………………………. 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%

Q6 If the Democratic candidates for President in
2016 were Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Hillary
Clinton, Andrew Cuomo, Russ Feingold, Deval
Patrick, Brian Schweitzer, and Mark Warner,
who would you vote for?
Joe Biden……………………………………………….. 16%
Cory Booker……………………………………………. 1%
Hillary Clinton………………………………………….. 52%
Andrew Cuomo ……………………………………….. 9%
Russ Feingold…………………………………………. 3%
Deval Patrick…………………………………………… 2%
Brian Schweitzer ……………………………………… 0%
Mark Warner …………………………………………… 0%
Someone else/Undecided…………………………. 16%

Q7 If the Democratic candidates for President in
2016 were just Cory Booker, Andrew Cuomo,
Russ Feingold, Deval Patrick, Brian
Schweitzer, and Mark Warner, who would you
vote for?
Cory Booker……………………………………………. 2%
Andrew Cuomo ……………………………………….. 30%
Russ Feingold…………………………………………. 18%
Deval Patrick…………………………………………… 13%
Brian Schweitzer ……………………………………… 1%
Mark Warner …………………………………………… 2%
Someone else/Undecided…………………………. 35%

Q8 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 14%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 20%
Moderate………………………………………………… 26%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 21%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 19%

Q9 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%
Man……………………………………………………….. 48%

Q10 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 34%
Republican……………………………………………… 32%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 33%

Q11 If you are white, press 1. If other, press 2.
White …………………………………………………….. 93%
Other……………………………………………………… 7%

Q12 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 10%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 20%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 45%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 25%