The final tracking polls have been released and Barack Obama and John McCain have maintained their leads, although Senator Hillary Clinton, whom many suggested was in a tailspin, has leveled off. Acccording to American Research Group, Obama leads Clinton 40% – 31%. John Edwards is a distant third at 20%. Clinton has closed the gap among women, but Obama still leads by a considerable margin among independents who are expected to make up a substantial portion of those voting in the Democratic primary tonight.
McCain leads Mitt Romney 31% – 24%. Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani are neck and neck for third place.
As I’ve mentioned, McCain and Obama are fighting amongst that same pool of independent voters. They appear to be gravitating towards Obama, but that may change if it appears McCain is vulnerable once the entrance polls are released.
Romney says he’s confident he’ll win today.
Hillary Clinton’s emotional moment (and one that I trumpeted as being very positive for her) led all three national newscasts last night. As I said to the RAN (an informal gathering of Republicans, Democrats and Independents), it would be the day’s lead story, and it would help. It was also featured this morning on The Today Show, so it will be on the top of voters minds as they go to the polls today. Chris Cillizza over at The Washington Post offers his thoughts on the matter.
Hillary Clinton’s aides say that a close second in New Hampshire would be considered a victory. On the other hand, if a loss in New Hampshire happens, things inside her HQ could shake up considerably. TIME suggests the Clinton campaign may be in a cash crunch.
Bill Clinton makes an important point on Obama’s record regarding the Iraq war: “It is wrong that Senator Obama got to go through 15 debates trumpeting his superior judgment and how he had been against the war in every year, enumerating the years, and never got asked one time–not once, ‘Well, how could you say that when you said in 2004 you didn’t know how you would have voted on the resolution? You said in 2004 there was no difference between you and George Bush on the war. And you took that speech you’re now running on off your Web site in 2004. And there’s no difference in your voting record and Hillary’s ever since.’”
Obama and McCain won the very early votes in Harts Landing and Dixville Notch.
Rumors abound that Obama stands to pick up the coveted Culinary Workers Union endorsement today thus giving him a significant advantage in Nevada.
Obama compares himself to President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. Hillary Clinton responds.