The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

p> TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANITE br> Despite poll numbers in New Hampshire -- in particular the Research 2000 poll for the Concord Monitor -- that show Rep. John Sununu in a dead heat with Sen. Bob Smith for the Republican Senate nomination, both camps have internal polling indicating the Sununu has a stronger lead than the public polls are showing. /p>

"Everyone, even the voters, are playing this one close to the vest," says a pollster for Sununu. "And while the poll numbers have tightened a bit in the past six weeks, we're confident that John pulls out of a five or six point win here. We think the voters will realize that if the Republicans are to have a shot at controlling the Senate, Smith can't be the candidate."

That's why the Sununu camp is making so much hay about the polls that show Smith losing in the general election to Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, while a Sununu-Shaheen faceoff leads to a Sununu win.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Shaheen is doing for Smith what Gray Davis did for Bill Simon out in California," says a Senate Republican Policy Committee staffer. (Davis is said to have spent heavily on anti-Dick Riordan advertising, allowing Simon to win the Republican nomination for governor.) "Her people are doing everything they can to help Smith pull this thing out. They're desperate for a Smith win."

p> RENO ON THE ROCKS

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