Does Poll Spell Trouble for Kuster?

Net favorability ratings for U.S. Reps. Carol Shea-Porter and Ann Kuster, Democrats from the 1st and 2nd Districts, respectively, are at –1 percent in the latest poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center.

The findings are fueling a new wave of questioning whether the two are vulnerable in the mid-term elections – much to the delight of Republican State Committee Chairwoman Jennifer Horn.

The WMUR Granite State Poll found much higher public opinion of U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat up for re-election in 2014, and U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican who is not up for re-election until 2016. The UNH release Wednesday was titled, "Shaheen and Ayotte Remain Popular."

The Ayotte numbers are in some contrast to the recent Public Policy Poll,which was taken after the senator's vote against background checks. The PPP poll had her favorable/unfavorable split at: 44 percent to 46 percent.

The respondents in the UNH poll were interviewed between April 4 and April 9 – before that vote. In an email earlier today, the New Hampshire Democratic Party panned Ayotte's vote by linking to a long list of letters to the editor, comments and editorials from around the state. 

How popular are the four members of the New Hampshire delegation? Here's the breakdown from the UNH poll:

The UNH poll surveyed 507 residents. It had a margin of error of 4.4 percent.

Horn, the NHGOP chairwoman, said the poll results was evidence of Kuster and Shea-Porter being out of touch with constituent concerns and needs.

"Representatives Shea-Porter and Kuster are losing support because Granite Staters are fed up with their votes for higher taxes, reckless spending and more debt," Horn said in a press release. "Kuster and Shea-Porter have gone to Washington and betrayed their constituents by championing extreme, job killing policies that will grow government and bankrupt our country. They are completely out of step with New Hampshire’s fiscally responsible values and unable to address the serious challenges that are threatening America's solvency."

NOTE: This story was updated at 8 p.m. Thursday to reflect that the UNH poll was conducted between April 4 and April 9–before the vote on the background checks.