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US rivals' last push in key state | US rivals' last push in key state |
(about 3 hours later) | |
US presidential hopefuls are set for a flurry of appearances as they ratchet up their campaigns a day before the crucial New Hampshire primary. | |
The candidates are holding a punishing round of meetings, rallies and house parties in a last-minute push for votes for the party nominations. | |
Some polls suggest Barack Obama is pulling ahead of Hillary Clinton in the Democratic Party's nomination battle. | |
Among Republicans, surveys indicate John McCain is leading in the state. | Among Republicans, surveys indicate John McCain is leading in the state. |
Two new opinion polls gave Senator Obama, who is riding a wave of popularity after his victory in Iowa last week, a double-digit lead over Senator Clinton. | |
John McCain has seen his poll fortunes rise | |
Mr Obama was set to begin his day of campaigning with an early morning appearance at a school gym. | |
John Edwards, who pushed Mrs Clinton into an unexpected third place in Iowa, had 10 stops planned after an all-night bus tour of the state, while Mrs Clinton had events scheduled at a gym and a high school. | |
In the Republican race, state front-runner Senator 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 "chilifest" in Rochester, alongside his celebrity supporter Chuck Norris. | |
Mitt Romney, who trailed behind Mr Huckabee in Iowa, planned a series of visits including to a restaurant, a rotary club and the Timberland company HQ in Stratham. | |
A USA Today/Gallup poll gave Mr Obama a 13-point lead over Mrs Clinton, while a CNN/WMUR tracking poll put Mr Obama on 39% and Mrs Clinton on 29%, with Mr Edwards on 16%. | |
The previous polls by both had Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton tied. | |
Two other polls released on Sunday indicated a much closer race. | |
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 Mrs Clinton's hopes of becoming the Democratic Party's presidential candidate. | Another defeat at this stage would be regarded as a serious blow to Mrs Clinton's hopes of becoming the Democratic Party's presidential candidate. |
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For the Republicans, the CNN poll gave Mr McCain 32%, six points ahead of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. | |
Former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee had 14%. | |
A Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll put Mr McCain on 31% and Mr Romney on 32%, with Mr Huckabee at 12%. | |
Scathing attack | |
Support for Mr 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 New Hampshire. | |
The latest polls followed televised debates in New Hampshire between both Republican and Democratic candidates on Saturday. | The latest polls followed televised debates in New Hampshire between both Republican and Democratic candidates on Saturday. |
In the Democratic debate, Mrs Clinton launched a scathing attack on Mr Obama, accusing him of shifting position on key issues. | In the Democratic debate, Mrs Clinton launched a scathing attack on Mr Obama, accusing him of shifting position on key issues. |
Mr Obama countered that he had been "entirely consistent" in his position, and also received a helping hand from Mr Edwards. | Mr 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 Mr McCain clashed over immigration. | The Republican candidates, for their part, traded blows on foreign policy, including the Iraq war, and Mr Romney and Mr 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 national front-runner, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, has not campaigned vigorously in the early stages of the primary season, preferring to focus on larger states later on. |