Democratic Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen opened up a commanding, 22-point lead over New Hampshire Republican Senator John E. Sununu in a new, independent poll released today.

   The American Research Group telephone survey put Shaheen in front, 58 percent to 36 percent. An ARG poll in June had Shaheen leading, 54 percent to 40 percent.

   Republican presidential hopeful John McCain gained on Democrat Barack Obama in the same survey, closing to two points, 47 percent for Obama to 45 percent for McCain.

   A month ago, ARG had Obama leading by 12 points.

   The McCain surge hadn’t helped Sununu, however, or Republican gubernatorial candidate Joe Kenney who trailed two-term, Democratic Gov. John Lynch, 60 percent to 27 percent.

    The poll was done July 19-21.

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