Tracking poll: McCain, Gore remain on top in New HampshireBy Keating Holland/CNN
January 25, 2000
Web posted at: 5:51 p.m. EST (2251 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley trails Vice President Al Gore by six points among likely Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire, while John McCain has a wider 45 percent to 33 percent margin among likely GOP primary participants, according to a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup tracking poll.
Steve Forbes remains third in the poll with support from 12 percent of Republican voters, and Alan Keyes followed him with 6 percent.
The poll was taken before Monday night's Iowa caucuses and one big difference between Iowa and New Hampshire is the number of religious right voters. Thirty-five percent of Iowa Republican caucus-goers said they were members of the religious right.
But only 8 percent of all New Hampshire GOP primary voters describe themselves as members of the religious right. That suggests that Forbes may have to switch from a strong moral campaign back to his bread-and-butter issue -- taxes -- if he hopes to build on his showing in Iowa.
On the Democratic side, only 15 percent say they are concerned that Bradley's health problems would interfere with his ability to serve effectively as president. Bradley suffers from atrial fibrillation, a non-life threatening irregular heartbeat, and he experienced four additional episodes of the condition recently.
More than six in 10 Granite State Democratic voters say they were very or somewhat interested in the results of the Iowa caucuses. But only 6 percent say that the Iowa results will affect their vote next Tuesday. Similar results on the effect of Iowa on GOP voters were not available.
The tracking poll is based on interviews with 453 likely Democratic primary voters and 561 likely Republican primary voters conducted January 22-24. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Likely Democratic voters choice for nominee |
Gore | 51% |
Bradley | 45% |
Likely GOP voters choice for nominee |
McCain | 45% |
Bush | 33% |
Forbes | 12% |
Keyes | 6% |
Bauer | 1% |
Hatch | 0% |
Members of religious right |
Iowa GOP Caucus-goers | 35% |
N.H. GOP Primary Voters | 8% |
Concerned about Bradley's health? (Asked of likely Democratic primary voters) |
Yes | 15% |
No | 82% |
How interested are you in Iowa caucus results? (Asked of likely Democratic primary voters) |
Very interested | 15% |
Somewhat interested | 46% |
Not interested | 38% |
Will Iowa caucus results affect your vote? (Asked of likely Democratic primary voters) |
Yes | 6% |
No | 93% |
Likely Voters' Opinion of Candidates |
| Favorable | Unfavorable |
McCain | 82% | 14% |
Bush | 70% | 27% |
Forbes | 50% | 43% |
Keyes | 46% | 38% |
Hatch | 30% | 44% |
Bauer | 23% | 48% |
Likely Voters' Opinion of Candidates |
| Favorable | Unfavorable |
Gore | 81% | 15% |
Bradley | 80% | 14% |
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