Clinton's lead ebbs in New Hampshire: poll

By Jason Szep

BOSTON (Reuters) - Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's lead over rival Barack Obama in New Hampshire has narrowed a month before the state's nominating primary in the 2008 race for the White House, polls showed on Wednesday.

The WMUR/CNN poll showed the New York senator leading Obama 31 percent to 30 percent in the early voting state of New Hampshire, which holds its primary on January 8. The survey had a 5 percentage point error margin.

A separate poll by Suffolk University for Boston's WHDH-TV also showed Obama gaining in New Hampshire, winnowing Clinton's lead to single digits and suggesting a fierce race in a state where the former first lady enjoyed a big lead just weeks ago.

The Suffolk University poll showed Clinton's support in the northeastern state falling by a percentage point to 33 percent and Obama's rising by 4 percentage points to 26 percent, narrowing Clinton's lead to 7 points from 12 last month.

New Hampshire's primary helps kick off the state-by-state battle to pick candidates for the November 8, 2008, election. The midwestern state of Iowa holds the first contest of the party nominating process with its January 3 caucuses.

"Obama leads among men, independents and younger voters while Clinton is well ahead among women, registered Democrats, and older voters," said David Paleologos, director of Boston-based Suffolk University's Political Research Center.

In the poll for CNN and WMUR, a New Hampshire television station, former North Carolina Sen. and Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards was in third place, with 16 percent.

Among Republicans, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee remained mired in single digits in New Hampshire despite a rapid rise in national polls, the CNN/WMUR poll showed.