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| Democratic rivals 'neck and neck' | Democratic rivals 'neck and neck' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Polls in the US state of New Hampshire suggest Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are running neck and neck, two days before a key primary there. | |
| Until recently, most opinion polls in the state put Sen Clinton ahead in the race to be the party's candidate in November's presidential election. | Until recently, most opinion polls in the state put Sen Clinton ahead in the race to be the party's candidate in November's presidential election. |
| But Sen Obama's victory in Iowa last week has boosted his campaign. | But Sen Obama's victory in Iowa last week has boosted his campaign. |
| Among Republicans, surveys indicate that Sen John McCain is ahead of rival candidates in New Hampshire. | Among Republicans, surveys indicate that Sen John McCain is ahead of rival candidates in New Hampshire. |
| Poll reversal | Poll reversal |
| The latest opinion polls come in the wake of the Iowa caucuses, in which Sen Clinton came an unexpected third, and televised debates in New Hampshire between both Republican and Democratic candidates on Saturday. | The latest opinion polls come in the wake of the Iowa caucuses, in which Sen Clinton came an unexpected third, and televised debates in New Hampshire between both Republican and Democratic candidates on Saturday. |
| A Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Sunday showed a virtual dead heat in New Hampshire, with Sen Clinton on 31% and Sen Obama 30%. | A Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Sunday showed a virtual dead heat in New Hampshire, with Sen Clinton on 31% and Sen Obama 30%. |
| Sen John Edwards, the Democratic runner-up in Iowa, showed at third place with 20%. | Sen John Edwards, the Democratic runner-up in Iowa, showed at third place with 20%. |
| Defeat in New Hampshire would be a serious blow to Sen Clinton | Defeat in New Hampshire would be a serious blow to Sen Clinton |
| Before the Iowa vote, the same poll had showed Sen Clinton leading by 6%. | Before the Iowa vote, the same poll had showed Sen Clinton leading by 6%. |
| A another poll released on Sunday by McClatchy-MSNBC showed Sen Obama ahead with 33% support to Sen Clinton's 31%. | A another poll released on Sunday by McClatchy-MSNBC showed Sen Obama ahead with 33% support to Sen Clinton's 31%. |
| One month ago the same poll showed Sen Clinton leading with 30% to Sen Obama's 27%. | One month ago the same poll showed Sen Clinton leading with 30% to Sen Obama's 27%. |
| While Iowa and New Hampshire - the earliest contests - do not necessarily produce a winner from either campaign, they can boost contenders' chances ahead of primaries in larger states. | While Iowa and New Hampshire - the earliest contests - do not necessarily produce a winner from either campaign, they can boost contenders' chances ahead of primaries in larger states. |
| Another defeat at this stage would be regarded as a serious blow to Sen Clinton's hopes of becoming the Democratic Party's presidential candidate. | Another defeat at this stage would be regarded as a serious blow to Sen Clinton's hopes of becoming the Democratic Party's presidential candidate. |
| Republican favourite | Republican favourite |
| Mike Huckabee, the surprise winner of the Republican caucuses in Iowa, does not appear to have similar support in New Hampshire. | Mike Huckabee, the surprise winner of the Republican caucuses in Iowa, does not appear to have similar support in New Hampshire. |
| Sunday's McClatchy-MSNBC poll of likely Republican voters in New Hampshire showed Mr Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, trailing in third place with 12%. | Sunday's McClatchy-MSNBC poll of likely Republican voters in New Hampshire showed Mr Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, trailing in third place with 12%. |
| Leading the poll was Sen John McCain with 32%, followed by ex-Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with 24%. | Leading the poll was Sen John McCain with 32%, followed by ex-Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with 24%. |
| The Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll suggests a closer race between Sen McCain with 31% and Mr Romney with 32%, with Mr Huckabee again at 12%. | The Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll suggests a closer race between Sen McCain with 31% and Mr Romney with 32%, with Mr Huckabee again at 12%. |
| Support for Sen McCain, whose campaign seemed at one point to be floundering, appears to be rising as his rivals attack each other, says the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington. | Support for Sen McCain, whose campaign seemed at one point to be floundering, appears to be rising as his rivals attack each other, says the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington. |
| Heated debates | Heated debates |
| During Saturday's Democratic debate, Sen Clinton launched a scathing attack on Sen Obama, accusing him of shifting position on key issues. | During Saturday's Democratic debate, Sen Clinton launched a scathing attack on Sen Obama, accusing him of shifting position on key issues. |
| Sen Obama countered that he had been "entirely consistent" in his position, and also received a helping hand from Mr Edwards. | Sen Obama countered that he had been "entirely consistent" in his position, and also received a helping hand from Mr Edwards. |
| "I didn't hear these kind of attacks from Senator Clinton when she was ahead. Now that she's not, we hear them," Mr Edwards said. | "I didn't hear these kind of attacks from Senator Clinton when she was ahead. Now that she's not, we hear them," Mr Edwards said. |
| The Republican candidates, for their part, traded blows on foreign policy, including the Iraq war, and Mr Romney and Sen McCain clashed over immigration. | The Republican candidates, for their part, traded blows on foreign policy, including the Iraq war, and Mr Romney and Sen McCain clashed over immigration. |
| The Republican frontrunner, former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, has not campaigned vigorously in the early stages of the primary season, to focus on larger states later on. | The Republican frontrunner, former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, has not campaigned vigorously in the early stages of the primary season, to focus on larger states later on. |