Polls Show At Least 10% of likely CD1 Voters Are Still Undecided

Former Congressman Jeb Bradley’s campaign says the candidate is trying to sway undecided voters by talking to them in person.

The Republican candidate’s spokesperson Alicia Preston says the campaign is also using the phones.

When it comes to making phone calls we’re certainly doing some targeting on independent and undecided voters that we’ve been able to identify and jeb himself is getting on the phone a lot of times to do that as well.

Democrat Carol Shea Porter’s campaign is also trying to sway undecided voters.

Campaign manager Pia Carusone says the idea is to repeat efforts that have worked in the past.

For the most part we have as you know the congresswoman enjoyed this in 2006 as well, a very strong, grassroots network. So there are people in every corner of this district that are doing various deeds that are helping us, you know, excuse me, in the election.

Both candidates are also relying on television and radio advertising to make an impression on undecided voters.

There’s always a possibility that a good ad might sway some of them.

But Andy Smith of the UNH Survey Center says it is instructive to look at what recent polling says about these voters.

What we see are younger voters are part of this because they haven’t voted in as many elections before and the party cues aren’t as strong. And then you get people who either identify themselves as independents or their weak partisans, say they’re weak Republicans or weak Democrats who don’t really follow politics as much as other people…

A recent trip to Manchester Community College bears out Smith’s observation.

Student Kate Bourdelais (Bore-de-lays) of Derry is a first time voter who has made up her mind for only one race.

Basically just president. That’s all I know about. And then I’ll just probably go with what my mom wants.

Jory Horn of Bedford said he, too hadn’t yet figured out which Congressional candidate to support.

I’m not sure yet. I’m actually planning to go online tonight and doing some research, trying to get ready for it. Do you know who’s running? Not yet, that’s what tonight’s for.

Some political analysts say some of the undecideds may end up voting for a congressional candidate if they actually cast a ballot.

Andy Smith of the UNH Survey Center says it could very well depend on who is winning the Presidential race.

These down ticket races, these congressional races or even these senate races are often driven by the top of the ticket race, by the presidential race. So if republicans are not anticipating that John McCain has a chance of winning, they’re less likely to show up and vote. They’ll say, aw, the heck with it, I’m just going to stay home.

A new report from UNH’s Carsey Institute shows the state has gained a substantial number of new voters.

And they tend to be Democrats.

Dante Scala of UNH was one of the authors of the report.

He says some of these voters helped Carol Shea Porter beat Jeb Bradley in Manchester two years ago.

Scala says on election night next week, he’ll be keeping an eye on the district’s biggest city.

I think that’s going to be an early sign is you know, how well are the democrats doing in Manchester? If carol shea porter can pull the same trick twice, you know, carrying most of the wards of Manchester again, that’s going to be a very early, very positive sign for her.

The latest poll from the UNH Survey Center shows Democratic Representative Shea Porter picking up support over the last few days.

But the percentage of undecided voters has stayed pretty much the same.

That means both campaigns still have work to do to try and win them over.