A recent survey of New Hampshire Republicans show presidential hopeful Arizona Sen. John McCain closing the gap between him and Republican competitor Texas Gov. George W. Bush.

The survey, released Nov. 3 by The Boston Herald, found 44 percent of Republicans favored Bush, while 26 percent sided with McCain.

A similar poll done in August showed Bush with 45 percent of the support and McCain holding only 10 percent.

However, Iowa is a different story.

“I know he’s doing very poorly in the polls [here] just because he hasn’t campaigned here at all,” said Jason Darrah, chairman of Iowa State College Republicans.

McCain passed over the Iowa Straw Poll held in August and has chosen to put his emphasis on New Hampshire, making appearances in Iowa rare.

“I’m not sure if he’s ignoring Iowa,” said Charlie Johnson, vice chairman of the ISU College Republicans. “He’s concentrating on New Hampshire because that is where the great amount of activity is at this time.”

Darrah, senior in political science, said McCain has made negative comments about ethanol, which deterred some Iowans from supporting him.

“He feels strategically he has a better shot of winning the New Hampshire primary and the South Carolina primary than the Iowa Caucus,” he said.

Darrah said Republican front-runner Bush is leading in Iowa and will probably win the caucus, which will be held Jan. 24.

Johnson, sophomore in political science, said when the caucus date gets closer, McCain will be seen in Iowa.

“I’m sure he’ll be back,” he said. “In the coming months before the Iowa caucus, he’s sure to come back and campaign hard in Iowa.”

Brian Kennedy, former chairman of the Iowa Republican Party during the 1996 election, recently joined the McCain campaign, which could be a sign that the senator wants to make more of an attempt to capture Iowa votes.

As the McCain campaign gains momentum in other parts of the country, attack politics may be a more prevalent force in the race for the Republican nomination.

McCain’s rumored temper has been the focus of negative comments, but Johnson said he doesn’t see it as a big issue because “he hasn’t shown it publicly.”

Darrah also said the recent reports of McCain’s temper may be attributed to his gaining in the polls.

“The election is getting closer so I think part of that is only natural,” he said. “As the primary gets closer, they will campaign more aggressively.”