Poll: Obama Leads
in N.H., GOP Race Tight

Obama has a big lead over Clinton among New Hampshire's large bloc of independent voters, who can vote in either party's primary. They are about even among women. He's also ahead among younger people, first-time primary voters, and men. Clinton does best among Democrats and conservatives. More of Clinton's supporters say they're firmly committed to their candidate, but Obama is viewed as more electable in November.

In the GOP contest, McCain and Romney are about even among independents and Republicans. McCain leads with moderates, while the two are close among conservatives. Romney does best with Republicans most concerned about illegal immigration, while McCain leads among Republicans focused on the economy and terrorism. The two top rivals are seen as equally electable.

DEMOCRATS

Barack Obama, 36%

Hillary Rodham Clinton, 28%

John Edwards, 22%

Bill Richardson, 7%

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REPUBLICANS

John McCain, 35%

Mitt Romney, 31%

Mike Huckabee, 13%

Ron Paul, 8%

Rudy Giuliani, 5%

The telephone poll, by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, was conducted Saturday and Sunday. It involved interviews with 636 likely Democratic primary voters and 477 likely Republican primary voters, and includes voters leaning toward a candidate. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus four percentage points for Democrats and 4.5 points for Republicans. (AP)