Stefany Shaheen, the daughter of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), has been attacking AIPAC as a central message of her campaign in the closing days of her campaign.

But unlike some other Democrats who have used attacks against Israel to boost fortunes with the progressive base, Shaheen has fallen behind her primary opponent, military veteran Maura Sullivan, who holds a narrow lead in the latest public polling. Sullivan, who entered the race as a supporter of Israel, has also taken a more critical turn, supporting blocking at least some offensive weapons sales to the Jewish state.

Shaheen and Sullivan are the two leading Democratic candidates vying to succeed Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, and the race has turned increasingly acrimonious in the closing days of the campaign.

Shaheen, who went on air with an anti-AIPAC ad accusing Sullivan of receiving support from the pro-Israel group last month, has continued to double down with a new ad airing this week, shared by the New Hampshire Journal, which describes Sullivan as “bankrolled” by AIPAC, which the ad describes as “the powerful pro-Israel lobby aligned with Netanyahu,” alongside a photo of the Israeli prime minister.

The outlet noted that Shaheen has been leaning into her opposition to Israel aid in media interviews as well, and accused Sullivan of attempting to recast herself as a progressive in the closing stretch of the campaign.

Sullivan is circulating her own ad accusing Shaheen of “shameful” lies about Sullivan, including emphasizing that Sullivan “doesn’t take a dime from corporate PACs or AIPAC.” 

In the ad, Sullivan accuses Shaheen of feeling “entitled” to the seat because of who her mother is.

The two again traded barbs during a Thursday evening debate, with Sullivan also facing criticism from several of the other candidates on stage.

“She has taken AIPAC-bundled donations more than she has raised from people who are in New Hampshire,” Shaheen claimed. “It matters because the voters deserve to know what her positions are.”

Sullivan responded that she does not have any support from AIPAC. “I have called for the cessation of the illegal encroachment on settlements in the West Bank. I’ve said that the U.S.-Israel relationship needs a reset, and I’ve been very, very clear that I would have voted with Bernie Sanders on a recent bill to not send offensive weapons to Israel,” she continued — a significant shift from her more pro-Israel stance earlier in the race.

Faced with continued accusations from Shaheen, Sullivan said that she had contacted Democrats across the country who have supported other in-state Democrats. “I think we can all agree that that’s great company. And let me be clear: I’m incredibly proud to have the support of people who have supported our senators and see leadership in me.”

A poll by Tavern Research released on Wednesday showed Sullivan holding a narrow lead over Shaheen, 33%-27%, even after Shaheen secured the endorsement of Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) in late August. University of New Hampshire and St. Anselm College polls also showed Sullivan with a narrow lead as of mid-to-late August. Shaheen had previously led in surveys in the district.

Andrew Smith, the director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, told Jewish Insider that the race is still very much unsettled and in flux, and said that he sees a path to victory for progressive Carly Beriont as well, running in a more anti-establishment lane, after other progressive candidates dropped out, and as Shaheen and Sullivan focus their fire on each other.

Shaheen, given her family pedigree, and Sullivan, as a previous candidate for the seat, “have been engaged in Democratic politics for quite a bit of time, whereas Beriont is the outsider,” Smith said.

Smith said that early polling showing Shaheen leading was primarily due to name recognition, but that Sullivan has been able to close that gap before the primary. He emphasized that, in UNH’s most recent polling, the two are effectively tied and neither has pulled above 30%, “which says to me, as somebody who’s followed these races here in New Hampshire for 25, 30 years, it could go in a lot of different directions at the end.”

Smith called Shaheen’s anti-AIPAC attacks somewhat surprising, given that the issue hasn’t been particularly salient in New Hampshire in the past, but said other Democratic primaries elsewhere in the country have shown it to be effective. At the same time, he said that the state hasn’t seen many anti-Israel demonstrations, “so I don’t believe there’s that much of a movement there.”

Smith predicted that the winner of the Democratic primary will be the favorite in the general election, given the district’s Democratic lean, the unpopularity of President Donald Trump in the district and the underwhelming field of GOP candidates. Businessman Anthony DiLorenzo has emerged as the GOP favorite after winning Trump’s endorsement.