Poll: Shea-Porter, Guinta in Dead Heat

A New England College poll released Tuesday shows that U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) is in a virtual dead heat with potential Republican challenger Frank Guinta.

Shea-Porter, who defeated Guinta in the 2012 election for the 1st District seat, leads him by just one percentage point, 43 to 42 percent, according to the poll. Fifteen percent said they remain unsure.

But Guinta must first fend off any Republican challengers before he can face Shea-Porter. The poll shows that he leads GOP contenders, at 54 percent, followed by radio host Jeff Chidester at 7 percent and outgoing University of New Hampshire business school dean Dan Innis of Portsmouth at 6 percent. Thirty-three percent of voters remain unsure. 

In the U.S. Senate race, former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown leads the pack among Republicans with 47 percent, even though he hasn't said he's running. Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass came in second at 21 percent, followed by Jim Rubens at 5 percent and Karen Testerman at 4 percent.  

In a head to head match-up, U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen received 51 percent and Bass 32 percent, with 17 percent unsure. 

In the 2nd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH) leads Republican challenger Gary Lambert 46 percent to 26 percent, with another 28 percent still unsure.