The co-chair of Hillary Clinton’s New Hampshire campaign said he was “a bit surprised” to see Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders skyrocket to a 7 point lead over the former secretary of state in today’s shocking Franklin Pierce/Boston Herald New Hampshire Democratic primary poll — but shrugged off its importance.

“I guess I would say I am a bit surprised,” said Terry Shumaker, who served as the United States Ambassador to Trinidad during Bill Clinton’s second term. “Polls go up and polls go down. In 2008 she was up by 30 points in New Hampshire, then she was 11 points behind in the last poll and ended up winning the state by 3. I think we can get carried away with polls.”

The data, complied from a sample of 442 likely Democratic primary voters from August 7 through August 10, said just over half of those surveyed could see themselves supporting Clinton, but were not excited about her candidacy.

Shumaker contended he does not see a lack of excitement in the Granite State.

“I don’t know who they are talking to but I was at five events over the past two days and everyone at those events was incredibly enthusiastic,” he said during an interview with Herald Radio’s “Herald Drive” show. “We had overflow crowds.”

Shumaker also pointed out that nearly two-thirds of respondents said, regardless of who they support, Clinton is the person most likely to win the nomination.

“Secretary Clinton and Sen. Sanders are close on many issues,” he said. “As we get closer to the actual primary, people will see there is not much difference between the two and that Hillary is more electable.”

Sanders, waging a far-left underdog campaign, has generated crowds of tens of thousands in campaign appearances across the country this summer, while Clinton’s campaign has grappled with headlines focused on her private email server.

Yesterday, Clinton turned over the server to the U.S. Justice Department as well as a thumb drive containing additional emails, amid reports some of her emails may have contained classified information.

“I am glad the server is now in the hands of professional law enforcement,” Shumaker said. “My guess is by the fall we will not be talking about this at all. I hope this will put it to rest, because it has been a distraction. We all delete emails, and the press and the media are much more interested in it than the voters are.”

Shumaker also took issue with criticism that Clinton’s campaign has not been accessible, referencing an appearance in New Hampshire last month when the press was literally roped off away from the candidate during a parade.

“She is a small person and in order for the people lining the streets to see her, the press need to be kept back because some members of the press corps are pretty tall,” he said.

Clinton returned to New Hampshire this week. “Over the past two days … she took countless questions,” he said. “There was no pre-screening of any questions whatsoever.”

ALSO READ: