Hassan leads Ayotte in NH Senate poll

New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) leads Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) in a potential Senate match-up for 2016, according to an NBC News-Marist poll. 

Hassan takes 48 percent support over Ayotte at 44 percent, the survey found. Seven percent said they’re undecided.

Ayotte announced in November she would seek reelection to the Senate in 2016, and she’s moving quickly to marshal her resources. Last week, Ayotte hired a campaign manager, Ben Sparks, who served in the same role for now-Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) in his 2014 victory over former Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska).

Ayotte had more than $2 million cash on hand at the end of 2014, according to Federal Election Commission filings. She has also been mentioned as a potential GOP vice presidential candidate.

Hassan has not said whether she intends to run for Senate in 2016. She just won reelection as governor of New Hampshire in November, but she’s the top prize for Democrats seeking a formidable challenger to Ayotte. Since gubernatorial terms in the Granite State are two years, she’d have to choose between running for Senate or reelection as governor, too. 

The NBC News-Marist poll of 887 registered voters has a 3.3-percentage-point margin of error.