New Hampshire Senate Election 2010: Republican Ayotte 50%, Democrat Hodes 38% … Republican Binnie 49%, Democrat Paul Hodes 37%

In the New Hampshire US Senate race for the retiring Judd Gregg (R) it appears that the GOP has the upper hand and will retain the Senate seat in 2010. Both Republicans Kelly Ayotte and Bill Binney have double digit leads in the most recent Rasmussen poll. Ayotte has reached the 50% mark.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in New Hampshire shows former state Attorney General Kelly Ayotte at 50% for the second month in a row, with Hodes earning 38% support. Three percent (3%) favor some other candidate, and nine percent(9%) are undecided.

Businessman Bill Binnie chalks up 49% support, same as in April, versus 37% for Hodes, a U.S. congressman since 2007. Six percent (6%) like another candidate, while eight percent (8%) are undecided.

Prior to last month, support for Ayotte, long viewed as the front-runner on the GOP side, has remained in the narrow range of 46% to 49% in surveys stretching back to last September. In match-ups with her in that time period, Hodes has been unable to break out of the 30s.

Republicans will pick their nominee in a September 14 primary. It looks like the GOP is well on their way to a hold in the Granite state.