Poll: Obama Gains on Clinton in New Hampshire

11.30.07 -- 6:51 AM

By Reuters

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is gaining on rival Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire, while Republican Mitt Romney’s lead in the early voting state is stable, according to a new poll by Suffolk University for Boston’s WHDH TV.

Likely voters in New Hampshire’s Jan. 8 Democratic primary, which includes independents, gave 34 percent support to Clinton, while 22 percent backed Obama and 15 percent picked former North Carolina senator John Edwards. Just 12 percent were undecided. Her current 12-point spread contrasts to June when Clinton led Obama by 18 points.

“If Obama could shave off another six points in the next few weeks, he’ll be well within the margin of error – and John Edwards still has a chance to make it a three-person race,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center.

On the Republican side, Romney, the former governor of neighboring Massachusetts, attracted 34 percent support, compared with former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani’s 20 percent, Arizona Sen. John McCain’s 13 percent, Texas Rep. Ron Paul’s 8 percent, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s 7 percent. Fourteen percent were undecided.

A separate poll this month by University of New Hampshire for WMUR and CNN showed Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, losing some ground but still holding a commanding lead in New Hampshire. That poll, released on Nov. 20, showed Clinton’s lead shrinking to 36 percent from 43 percent in September. Obama, an Illinois senator, was in second place with 22 percent , up from 20 percent.

Save and Share | Trackbacks(0) | Comments(0) | Email to a friend | Print version