The Republican veteran challenging Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan in New Hampshire has gained five points in one month.
Don Bolduc’s increasing momentum has reinvigorated Republican organizations that had previously regarded the race as a victory for the Democratic Party.
In September, Emerson College Polling found that 51% of voters intended to support Hassan while 40% would support Bolduc. Now, the organization’s latest poll found Hassan leads Bolduc by just 48% to 45% with 4% of voters undecided.
“Hassan has the majority and plurality of support of voters under 35 and voters over 65, whereas Bolduc’s support is strongest among voters between 35 and 65, with whom he holds the plurality of support,” noted Spencer Kimball, the Executive Director of Emerson College Polling.
The poll found 49% of voters view both Hassan and Bolduc favorably. Bolduc is regarded as unfavorable by 46% while Hassan is considered unfavorable by 49% of voters.
Bolduc’s climb in the polls has prompted the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) to refocus on New Hampshire with 13 days left until the 2022 midterm elections. The organization had previously canceled its independent expenditure reservations in New Hampshire.
“Don Bolduc is running a great race against Maggie Hassan, who’s being weighed down by her full-throated support for Joe Biden and his agenda that’s hurting New Hampshire families,” said NRSC’s chairman, Florida Senator Rick Scott, in an official statement, per The Hill. “Our polling, along with recent public polling, shows that this race is in the margin of error and winnable.”
“The NRSC is proud to stand with General Bolduc,” Scott added. “We’re going to win this race so Don Bolduc can bring real leadership back to this Senate seat.”
The NRSC will spend approximately $1 million on ads supporting Bolduc that will air later this week.
Bolduc was initially regarded as an outsider and at times described as “far right.” The retired Army brigadier general won the state’s Republican primary in September, defeating state Senate president Chuck Morse who had been endorsed by Governor Chris Sununu.
The Republican has denounced his opponent's advertisements attacking his position on key issues, including abortion, which he says push political divisiveness.
“I will tell you all the ads out there about me from my opponent are lies. It’s not true. The (lack of) civility out there, I feel and I see, and it’s wrong,” said Bolduc during an event on Oct. 25. “And I will not lower myself to that level. I will not do that. You deserve better in your public servants.”
Hassan, in turn, called Bolduc “possibly the most extreme opponent nominee for the United States Senate that New Hampshire has seen in modern history.” Hassan is serving her first term in the Senate.
