Kerry holds tenuous lead in NH

Is there any doubt that New Hampshire is a dogfight between Kerry and Dean? In the latest Zogby poll on the race (the first in several months), both Kerry and Dean are statistically tied, with Kerry holding a small three point lead. (Feb numbers in parenthesis)

Kerry 25 (26)
Dean 22 (13)
Lieberman 10 (9)
Gephardt 7 (11)
Edwards 2
Kucinich 2
Graham 1
Sharpton 1
Moseley-Braun 1

Suffice it to say, NH is critical for both Dean and Kerry, and it will undoubtedly get ugly. Whoever comes in second will be out of the race, a victim of media "expectations" (unless the "loser" somehow beats Gephardt in Iowa).

On the other hand (and quite ironically), the third-place finisher will also be considered a "winner" that evening, and should force Lieberman and Gep to campaign in NH as much as they might want to focus their attentions on South Carolina and the other Feb. 2 primaries.

As for Edwards and Graham -- ouch.

Posted June 10, 2003 01:27 AM | Comments (40)