Poll: McCain Gains in NH

THE RACE: The presidential race for Democrats and Republicans in New Hampshire.

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THE NUMBERS - DEMOCRATS

Hillary Rodham Clinton, 32 percent

Barack Obama, 32 percent

John Edwards, 18 percent

Bill Richardson, 8 percent

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THE NUMBERS - REPUBLICANS

Mitt Romney, 34 percent

John McCain, 27 percent

Rudy Giuliani, 11 percent

Mike Huckabee, 9 percent

Ron Paul, 9 percent

Fred Thompson, 4 percent

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OF INTEREST:

The poll shows Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama in a dead heat among likely Democratic voters 2 1/2 weeks before New Hampshire's Jan. 8 primary. Former Sen. John Edwards remains in third place.

In the Republican contest, Sen. John McCain is gaining on former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who long held double-digit leads over rivals in New Hampshire. Those polled said they liked McCain for standing up for his beliefs and being in touch with average Americans, but Romney for having new ideas to solve problems and sharing voters' values. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who is surging in Iowa and nationally, is competing for third place with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Texas Rep. Ron Paul. Former Sen. Fred Thompson is a distant sixth.

In both primaries, more than 40 percent say they could change their minds.

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The USA Today/Gallup Poll was conducted by telephone Dec. 17-19, reaching 477 likely Republican voters and 510 likely Democratic voters. The margin of sampling error for both surveys is plus or minus 5 percentage points.

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