The answer, according to the latest CNN/WMUR poll seems to be yes:
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Barack Obama has chipped away at Hillary Clinton’s lead in New Hampshire locking the Democrats in a statistical tie a month before the first presidential primary, according to a CNN/WMUR Poll released Wednesday.
Clinton has dropped 5 percentage points since a previous CNN/WMUR survey in November, while Obama has gained 8 percentage points, according to the poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. Clinton is now at 31 percent to Obama’s 30 percent. New Hampshire’s primary is set for January 8.
Clinton’s 5-percentage point drop appears to have been largely due to the loss of support among women.
“Clinton’s support among Democratic women in New Hampshire has dropped from 43 percent to 33 percent,” Holland said. “By contrast, her support among men dropped only 1 point to 27 percent in that same time period.”
Combined with Clinton’s problems in Iowa, this fall in New Hampshire could be a serious problem for her campaign in the early stages of the race. It may also explain why the Clinton campaign is looking to New Hampshire as part of a “Plan B” scenario should she lose Iowa:
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - Hillary Rodham Clinton’s backup plan if she falters in Iowa can be summed up in two words: New Hampshire.
Clinton’s Democratic team is preparing television ads here criticizing Barack Obama’s health care plan and working to build what campaigns call a firewall. If the Obama presidential campaign ignites in Iowa, she wants to be ready to cool him off in a state where her organization is strong and her support has proven durable.
This past weekend, the Clinton campaign already had volunteers going door-to-door with fliers criticizing Obama on health care, and possible TV ads against him were screened for focus groups.
Advisers to the New York senator acknowledge there’s been uneasiness as Obama has risen in national and several early state polls, including Iowa and New Hampshire. But they insist their master blueprint - emphasizing Clinton’s experience, toughness and ability to withstand Republican attacks - remains sound.
“This is ultimately going to come down to two questions for undecided voters: Which is the Democrat best positioned to win in November, and which one is best qualified to start from the very first day give the country a fresh start,” said Tom Vilsack, a former Iowa Democratic governor who serves as national co-chair of Clinton’s campaign.
Up until now, the answer to that question has been, for most Democrats, Clinton. This poll may be a sign that people are changing their minds.
January 7th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
When you get right down to it, I need Hillary Clinton as my President like I need Mike Tyson as my mailman. Whatever strengths that she has. I don’t really care about and certainly DO NOT want her representing me or MY COUNTRY ~ EVER. She was a crappy lawyer, a crappy First Lady, a crappy Senator, and a crappy WIFE. When the President needs the FULL support of a Laura Bush or Jackie Kennedy type at his side - who needs a Hillary to have her own agenda and leveraging her husbands clout to try to “shove” her dubious master plan through to the public. No Thank you, Hillary. Hers is not the agenda of the people, and SHAME on the great state New York for bringing her into your Senate - what has she done for YOU ? The reality is that if she did not get the NY Senate seat, we know that she would have pandered for Arkansas then Illinois till she did steal a Senate seat for herself. She plays us all like pawns in her game of global political scheming. My God, she makes “Doctor Evil” look like a frikkin’ Teletubby. Ultimately, who does she represent other than herself? I simply don’t TRUST her, and I don’t LIKE her. Any-who, please God , steer us away from Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire Primary. My vote stands: Any candidate that is NOT Hillary Clinton … and my advice to you is that if you must vote Democrat, PLEASE make a more intelligent choice than Hillary.