HENNIKER-Former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D-Madbury) struggled in a debate over a question asked by Politicker.com national managing editor James Pindell.

Shaheen was participating in the first live televised debate against U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley).

"Governor can you give one issue that you believe in your gut to be absolutely true but that the polls suggest to be politically unpopular," Pindell asked in a debate held at New England College.

After seven seconds of pause Shaheen said, "Well certainly I think the one we just talked about, global warming is something that polls talk about the concern about costs and is something we've got to addressed because it's critical to our future."

She added, "People and polls are concerned about the cost of doing business and government and fiscal responsibility."

Later when pressed by moderator Laura Knoy, who said the issues Shaheen mentioned were politically popular, Shaheen responded, "You know I don't pay a lot of attention to polls and so I make decisions based on what I think is right and what I think is going to be good for the people of New Hampshire."

Sununu said that his support for the bailout package is not popular in public opinion polls.

"That bailout package might not have been popular in the polls but I belief it was the right thing to do," Sununu said.