Is she that popular?
She was a pretty popular governor. She has been a US Senator for a couple terms now. She does not say stupid things. She also does not really say anything too controversial.
Basically, she is like the little old lady who makes you cookies and will get you an abortion.
Nobody remembers that she had a hard time balancing the budget when she was governor.
Nobody can name a piece of legislation she has put forward.
They just vote for her.
Maggie Hanson(our other US Senator) beat the incumbent one term republican Senator Kelly Ayotte. Hanson was actually a good fiscal governor. As, she actually balanced the budget.