Democratic nominee Representative Paul Hodes has low favorability ratings and is falling behind most of his potential Republican challengers in the race for Senator Judd Gregg’s seat.  40% of voters of have an unfavorable opinion of the Representative.

Hodes falls behind the most popular Republican candidates Kelly Ayotte and Bill Binnie. Ayotte leads Hodes 45:42 and Bill Binnie is ahead of Hodes 46:41. Only 26% of voters and 23% of Republicans have yet to form an opinion of Ayotte. 41% of voters have no opinion of Binnie, Ayotte’s closest competitor, including 36% of Republicans.

Amongst the less popular Republican candidates Hodes fares better but doesn’t do well. The Representative is statistically tied with Republican Jim Bender and leads Ovide Lamontagne 43:38.

There is some good news for Democrats in New Hampshire. President Obama’s approval ratings haven’t slipped in the Granite State. New Hampshire approves of Obama 49 to 47. While New Hampshire voters don’t support or oppose Obama’s health care plan, more voters support it today than did in April.

New Hampshire voters have mixed feelings about Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s work in Washington. New Hampshire voters approve of Shaheen 45:44. 44% approve of Senator Gregg’s work and 39% disapprove.

“Things may change for Paul Hodes once New Hampshire enters the general election,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “But for now it seems like the Republicans have done a good job of using the primary to their advantage.”

PPP surveyed 900 New Hampshire voters from ­­­­­­July 23-25, 2010.  The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.26%.  Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.

If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.

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

Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of President
Barack Obama’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 49%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 47%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 4%

Q2 Do you support or oppose President Obama’s
health care plan, or do you not have an
opinion?
Support ………………………………………………….. 47%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 47%
No Opinion……………………………………………… 7%

Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Judd
Gregg’s job performance?
Approve ……………… 44%
Disapprove………….. 39%
Not Sure……………… 18%

Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Jeanne Shaheen’s job performance?
Approve…………….. 45%
Disapprove………… 44%
Not Sure……………. 11%

Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Paul Hodes?
Favorable……………. 35%
Unfavorable ………… 40%
Not Sure……………… 25%

Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Kelly Ayotte?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 36%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 39%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 26%

Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Bill Binnie?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 27%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 33%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 41%

Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Jim Bender?
Favorable ………….. 15%
Unfavorable……….. 28%
Not Sure……………. 57%

Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Ovide Lamontagne?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 16%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 33%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 51%

Q10 If the candidates for US Senate this fall were
Democrat Paul Hodes and Republican Kelly
Ayotte, who would you vote for?
Paul Hodes …………………………………………….. 42%
Kelly Ayotte…………………………………………….. 45%
Undecided………………………………………………. 13%

Q11 If the candidates for US Senate this fall were
Democrat Paul Hodes and Republican Bill
Binnie, who would you vote for?
Paul Hodes …………………………………………….. 41%
Bill Binnie……………………………………………….. 46%
Undecided………………………………………………. 13%

Q12 If the candidates for US Senate this fall were
Democrat Paul Hodes and Republican Jim
Bender, who would you vote for?
Paul Hodes …………………………………………….. 43%
Jim Bender……………………………………………… 42%
Undecided………………………………………………. 16%

Q13 If the candidates for US Senate this fall were
Democrat Paul Hodes and Republican Ovide
Lamontagne, who would you vote for?
Paul Hodes …………………………………………….. 43%
Ovide Lamontagne…………………………………… 38%
Undecided………………………………………………. 18%