Polls & Research

Romney, Hillary Lead in New Hampshire

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Mitt Romney is the most popular presidential contender for Republican Party supporters in the Granite State, according to a poll by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. released by MSNBC. 27 per cent of likely GOP primary voters in New Hampshire would back the former Massachusetts governor in the 2008 United States primary.

Arizona senator John McCain is second with 16 per cent, followed by former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani with 15 per cent, and actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson with 12 per cent. Support is lower for former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and Kansas senator Sam Brownback.

In the sample of Democratic Party supporters, New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is first with 26 per cent, followed by Illinois senator Barack Obama with 21 per cent, and former North Carolina senator John Edwards with 19 per cent. Support is lower for New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, Delaware senator Joe Biden, former U.S. vice-president Al Gore, Connecticut senator Chris Dodd, and former Alaska senator Mike Gravel.

New Hampshire traditionally hosts the first presidential primary in the United States. Since 1952, 11 Republicans and eight Democrats have won the Granite State contest and later earned their party's presidential nomination. New Hampshire allows independent voters to take part in primaries.

In 2004, Massachusetts senator John Kerry won the Democratic New Hampshire primary with 38.4 per cent, followed by former Vermont governor Howard Dean with 26.3 per cent, retired general Wesley Clark with 12.4 per cent, and Edwards with 12.1 per cent. Incumbent president George W. Bush won the Republican primary without serious opposition.

Bush is ineligible for a third term in office. The next U.S. presidential election is scheduled for November 2008.

Polling Data

Voting intention - 2008 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary

Voting intention - 2008 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary