Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
America's Voice: New Hampshire Primary
Aired January 26, 2004 - 06:47 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The nation's first primary in New Hampshire is just a day away and polls show that John Kerry is the front runner.
Gallup Poll Editor-in-Chief Frank Newport joins us with the findings.
And equally interesting, Frank, is this three-way tie.
FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, THE GALLUP POLL: Indeed, it's quite interesting. We have been polling our CNN-USA Today Gallup tracking poll in New Hampshire through yesterday. Here is what we show, John Kerry in the lead. Most polls have been showing that. Kerry actually moved into the lead fairly briskly after the results of Iowa became known to voters up there in New Hampshire and he has held on to it ever since. Thirty-six percent of likely voters is our latest estimate of those who would say they would vote for the Massachusetts senator.
Now Howard Dean had been dropping significantly. He had been ahead. The story here is that he has stabilized. He was down to 22 percent in our poll a few days ago, back up to 25 percent. So the story out of the primary tomorrow may be that Dean comes in a strong second. Doesn't look like he is going to be close enough to Kerry to challenge to win the primary.
Down here, a three-way tie, just as you mentioned, Fredricka. Wesley Clark had been falling fairly precipitously. He had been up in a 20 percent range. Recovered a little. But statistically, Clark, Joe Lieberman and John Edwards, who did well out of Iowa but really hasn't translated that into a great burst of support up there in New Hampshire so far. Anyhow, a three-way tie for those people, these three candidates for third place. That's what we have as of last night's interviewing -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, so is there an explanation as to why Kerry is getting the advantage?
NEWPORT: Indeed, this is really fascinating, because we asked voters in New Hampshire, tell us which of the candidates would better fit these descriptions. And on things like has new ideas to solve the nation's problems, Dean actually beats Kerry.
But look at this, as the key measure, we believe who would have the best chance of beating George W. Bush next fall. And when we asked that, Kerry 56 percent of likely voters, only 16 percent say Dean. So that's it in a nutshell. If I had to describe what's happening up there, it's that the Democratic and independent leaning Democratic voters in New Hampshire says Kerry has the electability mantle on his shoulders at this point and that's what's giving him the edge based on our analysis.
WHITFIELD: All right. Frank Newport, thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 26, 2004 - 06:47 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The nation's first primary in New Hampshire is just a day away and polls show that John Kerry is the front runner.
Gallup Poll Editor-in-Chief Frank Newport joins us with the findings.
And equally interesting, Frank, is this three-way tie.
FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, THE GALLUP POLL: Indeed, it's quite interesting. We have been polling our CNN-USA Today Gallup tracking poll in New Hampshire through yesterday. Here is what we show, John Kerry in the lead. Most polls have been showing that. Kerry actually moved into the lead fairly briskly after the results of Iowa became known to voters up there in New Hampshire and he has held on to it ever since. Thirty-six percent of likely voters is our latest estimate of those who would say they would vote for the Massachusetts senator.
Now Howard Dean had been dropping significantly. He had been ahead. The story here is that he has stabilized. He was down to 22 percent in our poll a few days ago, back up to 25 percent. So the story out of the primary tomorrow may be that Dean comes in a strong second. Doesn't look like he is going to be close enough to Kerry to challenge to win the primary.
Down here, a three-way tie, just as you mentioned, Fredricka. Wesley Clark had been falling fairly precipitously. He had been up in a 20 percent range. Recovered a little. But statistically, Clark, Joe Lieberman and John Edwards, who did well out of Iowa but really hasn't translated that into a great burst of support up there in New Hampshire so far. Anyhow, a three-way tie for those people, these three candidates for third place. That's what we have as of last night's interviewing -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, so is there an explanation as to why Kerry is getting the advantage?
NEWPORT: Indeed, this is really fascinating, because we asked voters in New Hampshire, tell us which of the candidates would better fit these descriptions. And on things like has new ideas to solve the nation's problems, Dean actually beats Kerry.
But look at this, as the key measure, we believe who would have the best chance of beating George W. Bush next fall. And when we asked that, Kerry 56 percent of likely voters, only 16 percent say Dean. So that's it in a nutshell. If I had to describe what's happening up there, it's that the Democratic and independent leaning Democratic voters in New Hampshire says Kerry has the electability mantle on his shoulders at this point and that's what's giving him the edge based on our analysis.
WHITFIELD: All right. Frank Newport, thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
