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Clinton struggles to hold Obama US rivals' last push in key state
(about 7 hours later)
Polls in the US state of New Hampshire suggest Barack Obama is gaining momentum over Hillary Clinton in the Democrat presidency battle. US presidential hopefuls are gearing up for a final full day of campaigning ahead of Tuesday's crucial New Hampshire primary.
Two new polls give Sen Obama a double digit lead after earlier ones suggested he had drawn level. New Hampshire holds a key primary on Tuesday. The candidates are due to begin a punishing day of meetings, rallies and house parties in a last-minute push for votes for the party nominations.
Sen Obama's victory in Iowa last week had boosted his campaign. Polls suggest Barack Obama is gaining momentum over Hillary Clinton in the Democratic Party's presidency battle.
Among Republicans, surveys indicate that Sen John McCain is ahead of rival candidates in New Hampshire. Among Republicans, surveys indicate Sen John McCain is leading in the state.
Two new polls give Sen Obama a double digit lead after earlier ones suggested he had drawn level.
Sen Obama, whose victory in Iowa last week boosted his campaign, was due to appear in a school gym in Claremont and the Opera House in Lebanon.
Defeat in New Hampshire would be a serious blow to Sen Clinton
John Edwards, who pushed Sen Clinton into an unexpected third place in Iowa, had 10 stops planned after an all-night bus tour of the state, while Sen Clinton had events scheduled at a gym in Dover and a high school in Salem.
In the Republican race, state frontrunner John McCain, who came fourth in Iowa, was due to appear at a series of events headlined "Mac is back".
Mick Huckabee, who won last week's vote, was scheduled to sample a "Huckaburger" in Concord before moving on to appear at a "chillifest" in Rochester, alongside film star Chuck Norris.
Mitt Romney, who trailed behind Mr Huckabee in Iowa, planned to visit a Durham restaurant, a rotary club in Nashua and the Timberland company HQ in Stratham.
Poll reversalPoll 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 CNN/WMUR New Hampshire Primary Tracking Poll gave Sen Obama 39% to 29% for Sen Clinton and 16% for John Edwards.The CNN/WMUR New Hampshire Primary Tracking Poll gave Sen Obama 39% to 29% for Sen Clinton and 16% for John Edwards.
A USA Today/Gallup poll gave Sen Obama a 13 point advantage.A USA Today/Gallup poll gave Sen Obama a 13 point advantage.
An earlier 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%.An earlier 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% in that poll. HAVE YOUR SAY Obama brings a message of change and many are apparently listening Marc, California class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4012&edition=1">Send us your comments Sen John Edwards showed at third place with 20% in that poll.
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%.
Another poll released on Sunday by McClatchy-MSNBC showed Sen Obama ahead with 33% support to Sen Clinton's 31%.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.
Rising fortunesRising fortunes
The CNN poll of Republicans gave Sen McCain 32%, six points ahead of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.The CNN poll of Republicans gave Sen McCain 32%, six points ahead of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
Former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee, the Republican winner in Iowa, had 14%. John McCain is leading polls in the state's Republican raceFormer Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee, the Republican winner in Iowa, had 14%.
Sunday's McClatchy-MSNBC poll of likely Republican voters in New Hampshire also had Sen McCain leading Mr Romney with Mr Huckabee third.Sunday's McClatchy-MSNBC poll of likely Republican voters in New Hampshire also had Sen McCain leading Mr Romney with Mr Huckabee third.
The Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll suggested a closer race between Sen McCain with 31% and Mr Romney with 32%, with Mr Huckabee at 12%.The Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll suggested a closer race between Sen McCain with 31% and Mr Romney with 32%, with Mr Huckabee 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 debatesHeated debates
During Saturday's Democratic debate, Sen Clinton launched a scathing attack on Sen Obama, accusing him of shifting position on key issues. The latest polls followed televised debates in New Hampshire between both Republican and Democratic candidates on Saturday.
HAVE YOUR SAY Obama brings a message of change and many are apparently listening Marc, California class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4012&edition=1">Send us your comments In the 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.
In a second debate on Sunday, the Republican candidates sparred over tax and spending records.In a second debate on Sunday, the Republican candidates sparred over tax and spending records.
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.