Sen. John Sununu (left) and Former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen
Senator John Sununu is the incumbent in this race, though judging by the polls you wouldn't know it. Former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen launched her candidacy last month and is already leading by anywhere from 5 to 15 percentage points. Sununu defeated Shaheen in 2002 with 50% of the vote to win his seat, though New Hampshire's political landscape has changed a lot in the last five years. Long known as the conservative heart of New England, New Hampshire has been trending Democrat of late as Boston's more liberal suburbs sprawl north. It was the only state to flip in 2004 and hand its support to John Kerry, and both GOP congressional representatives lost their seats to Democrats in 2006. Sununu, a freshman senator who previously served three terms in the House, is the son of New Hampshire Governor John Sununu, who also served as chief-of-staff to President George H. W. Bush. "Incumbents are never easy to beat but the state is turning Democratic," Cook said.
— Jay Newton-Small/Washington