Poll: Obama makes gains, is even with Clinton in N.H.

PELHAM, N.H. -- Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are locked in a dead heat among New Hampshire voters in a statewide USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, underscoring the volatility of the race less than three weeks before the nation's first primary.

Among Republicans, Mitt Romney's lead has narrowed to single digits over John McCain, who hopes to repeat the victory here that ignited his presidential campaign in 2000.

The survey's fundamental finding is uncertainty: More than four of 10 voters in each party say they may change their minds before the Jan. 8 primary. That fluidity could magnify the impact of late-breaking news, last-minute gaffes and the Iowa caucuses that will open the presidential season five days earlier.

"People are just taking a hard look at this point," says Jim Hardy, sheriff of Hillsborough County and a McCain supporter who is greeting voters at a campaign town hall with the Arizona senator at Pelham High School on Wednesday night.

At a rally in Keene for Democrat John Edwards, Linda Rockwell and her husband, Robin, say they are "leaning" toward Edwards but also considering Romney, the former Massachusetts governor. Independents can vote in either party's primary. "I don't really decide until a couple of days before," she says.

In the poll, Clinton and Obama are tied at 32%-32%, with Edwards at 18%. No other candidate breaks into double digits.

Counting only those who say their vote is certain, Clinton narrowly leads Obama, 20%-18%. Edwards is backed by 10%.

In the Republican race, Romney leads McCain, 34%-27%. Including only those whose votes are set, Romney's lead narrows to 19%-15%, within the survey's margin of error of +/— 5 points.

Effectively tied for third place are former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, at 11%, and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, each at 9%.

Just last month, most Granite State surveys showed Clinton and Romney with double-digit leads. Now, Clinton's "firewall" against a possible setback in Iowa has weakened. Of eight statewide polls taken by other news organizations during the past two weeks, Clinton has led in six, Obama in two, according to RealClearPolitics.com.

In the GOP, a lead for Romney that averaged 16 percentage points at the beginning of December has been cut to 7 points.

The USA TODAY poll, taken Monday through Wednesday, finds voters assessing the contenders as having distinctive strengths:

•Republicans view Romney as someone who shares their values, has new ideas to solve the country's problems and has the best chance of winning in November. McCain ranks first as someone who is in touch with average Americans, stands up for what he believes and can get things done in Washington.

•Democrats view Clinton as the candidate who knows how to get things done and is most likely to win the general election. But the New York senator ranks third, behind Illinois Sen. Obama and former North Carolina senator Edwards, as someone who offers new ideas and is "in touch with the average American."

Obama is seen as most likely to share voters' values and be willing to stand up for what he believes.