Kelly Ayotte, a New Hampshire GOP Senate candidate and Sarah Palin’s handpicked “granite grizzly,” is leading Democrat Paul Hodes, a two-term congressman, by 13 points in Rasmussen’s new poll, 51 percent to 38 percent.

Bill Binnie, a GOP businessman, also polls well against Hodes:

Ayotte’s GOP Primary challenger, businessman Bill Binnie, also remains ahead of Hodes but by a narrower 46% to 40% margin. Eight percent (8%) favor another candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided.
Prior to the latest survey, Ayotte and Binnie, who has poured millions of his own money into extensive television advertising, have been running neck-and-neck. But over the past month, Ayotte has been endorsed by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, and Binnie has been put on the defensive about his conservative credentials. New Hampshire Republicans will pick their Senate nominee from a seven-person field in a September 14 primary. Hodes is unchallenged for the Democratic nomination.

The primary is on Sept. 14.