Poll: Romney leading in N.H.
MANCHESTER, N.H. – For the first time since declaring his candidacy for the presidency, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is leading the other Republican contenders in a poll of likely voters in next year’s New Hampshire primary, a development that could provide a psychological boost for his campaign and energize his campaign donors.
The poll, conducted by Survey USA for WBZ-TV, was taken after the first debate among Republican presidential candidates last week. It shows 32 percent of likely GOP voters in New Hampshire favor Romney, compared with 23 percent for former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and 22 percent for Arizona Senator John McCain.
The poll, which has a 4.3 percent margin of error, also showed actor and former senator Fred Thompson in fourth place with 11 percent. Thompson, who plays a top prosecutor in the TV series, "Law and Order, has been flirting with a presidential run.
The Romney campaign pointed to the poll as evidence their campaign is surging. “We are seeing a great deal of progress in New Hampshire building our grassroots organization and the campaign continues to gain supporters,” said Sarah Pompei, a campaign spokesperson.
Romney's rivals, however, attacked the poll's credibility. They point out that Survey USA used computers to phone voters and ask questions rather than the industry standard of live operators, and challenged the poll’s result that only three percent of the electorate is undecided -- a substantially low number compared with other recent New Hampshire polls recently.
Indeed, the three most recent polls of New Hampshire Republicans paint a different picture.
An American Research Group poll released last week showed Romney picking up momentum but trailing McCain 29 percent to 24 percent. A Zogby International poll released last month had McCain and Romney tied at 25 percent.
The last poll by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center -- which most political professionals deem to be the most credible assessment of the state’s voters -- had McCain and Giuliani tied at 29 percent and Romney in third with 17 percent.
McCain’s campaign points out they consistently have led polls in numerous early primary states.
“State by state polling reflects the strength of our organization in key early states like New Hampshire,” said McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker. 