HENNIKER--A prominent Republican political consultant said that the state's U.S. Senate race is "neck-to-neck" despite polls showing former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D-Madbury) leading current U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley).

Jim Merrill, a Republican consultant, and former state director for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, also said that the debates show a stark difference between the candidates.

"I would look at this race to be neck-to-neck right now," Merrill said.

Merrill also said that he does not "buy" recent polls that shows Shaheen with a lead of anywhere between five and ten percentage points.

"I'm not sure I buy these polls," Merrill said. "I think people will break late and it's in flux."

Merrill said that he thinks the debates have shown a difference between the two candidates.

"I think it does. You see a significant difference between the two," he said.

Merrill added, "You see John Sununu who's the future of the state and you see Jeanne Shaheen whose time has come and gone."

Merrill's comments come hours before the two rivals participate in their first live televised debate.