MIDTERMS: GOP Eyes Surprise Victory In New Hampshire Senate Race

Republican strategists are increasingly viewing the Senate race between incumbent Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Republican candidate Don Bolduc as strong pickup opportunity despite appearing to write the race off earlier this month.

• The New Hampshire race was initially targeted as a key pickup of the cycle, Hassan won the seat in 2016 by .1%, but Bolduc's poor performance over the summer led Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to divert campaign funds out of the race.
• This month has seen a reversal of fortunes for Bolduc with most polls now showing the race a tossup.
• A GOP operative said this week Bolduc "is within striking distance. The environment is helping carry him even though he has practically no money of his own."
• Another GOP strategist: “Hassan is a very weak incumbent. [...] It’s a race where if the environment breaks nicely for Republicans, it could carry a Republican over the top. If he’s going to win, it’s going to be on the strength of the environment.”
• A senior adviser to the Bolduc campaign said: “It’s a dead-even race. Been that way for a while. [but] The momentum is on our side."