A new Rasmussen poll shows the New Hampshire governor race is a dead heat

  Shortly after the Republican gubernatorial primary was over, Public Policy Polling released a poll that showed John Stephen–the winner of the Republican gubernatorial primary–trailing Governor John Lynch by 12 points, at 51-39%. This poll was conducted before the primary results were in.

  Now that the primary is over and John Stephen is the official Republican candidate that will go up against John Lynch in the November election a new Rasmussen poll–the poll that many Americans feel is the most accurate pollster–was released that shows this race is much closer than anyone previously thought. In fact, according to this poll the race is statistically a dead heat. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Lynch picking up 48% support, while Stephen, the former state Health and Human Services commissioner, is right behind with 46% of the vote. One percent (1%) prefer a different candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided.

  New Hampshire Republicans may finally have a viable candidate to run against Governor John Lynch. Just last month this same poll showed then presumed Republican nominee Stephen behind the governor by a margin of 50-39%.

  For the first time since he became governor, John Lynch’s favorability rating has dipped below–and remains below–50%. This is always dangerous for an incumbent, and with the news of this latest poll one has to think that the governor has to be getting worried.

  There are some interesting internals in this poll: those that think the economy is the number one issue support John Lynch by a 12% margin. However, 76% of those that feel the economy is worsening support John Stephen, while  86% of those that feel the economy is getting better favor John Lynch.

  It looks like the economic impression of voters is going to play a major role in who wins this election, 30% of those polled say the economy is improving while 44% of those polled feel the economy is worsening. This could be bad news for the governor and good news for John Stephen.

In John Stephen the Republicans might finally have a viable opponent running against John Lynch for the first time since he was elected. The general election race is just beginning to heat up and if John Stephen can have good showings in the upcoming debates he may just be able to knock off John Lynch.