Hassan, Brown, Guinta Win Federal Cigar's Matchstick Poll

f the voters at the famed Federal Cigar have their way, Scott Brown will be New Hampshire’s U.S. Senator, Maggie Hassan will stay on for another term as governor, and Frank Guinta will return to Congress representing New Hampshire’s 1st District.

All three were declared the winners of Federal Cigar’s authentic Matchstick Poll, dubbed the Federal Forecast, during an event today at Federal Cigar’s new shop and cigar bar in Portsmouth.

Hassan beat Walt Havenstein 55 to 45 percent; Brown beat Jeanne Shaheen 53 to 47 percent; and Guinta beat Carol Shea-Porter 60 to 40 percent.

Following this longstanding New Hampshire political tradition, voters casted matches throughout October for candidates at all four Federal Cigar locations: Dover, Epping, Plaistow and the newly renovated and relocated Portsmouth store. Federal Cigar, which is the state’s oldest continuously run cigar shop, has hosted New Hampshire’s original matchbook poll since 1984. Voters could cast matches through the close of business on Oct. 28.

Federal Cigar co-owner Rick Gadway said the Federal Forecast is usually about 80-percent accurate.

“The Federal Forecast provides a great opportunity to support your candidate and to take part in some friendly political discussion,” Gadway said. “We take a lot of pride in the Federal Forecast and we are pleased to carry on this great political tradition.”

The popular matchbook poll typically sees several hundred voters each year. This year, 1,201 people voted. In the Federal Forecast, voters place matchbooks in their favored candidate’s “ballot box” – which are traditionally large, paper lunch bags with candidate names and profiles attached. Federal Cigar opened its doors in 1921 in downtown Portsmouth, NH. In the late 1930s, the store became a center for politics, current events, town business and more. In recent years, Federal Cigar has expanded to four stores serving all of southeast New Hampshire. Federal Cigar recently opened a new high-end, cigar shop and bar in Portsmouth on the corner of Ladd and Market streets.

For more information on Federal Cigar, visit federalcigar.com.

Photo Caption: Federal Cigar co-owner Rick Gadway announces the winners of the 2014 Federal Cigar Federal Forecast, New Hampshire’s only matchbook poll. Federal Cigar has been hosting its matchbook poll since 1984.