Three national polls tracking the Dem presidential candidates show more or less the same thing: Dean and Clark battling it out for the lead.
Dean and Gephardt may be neck and neck in Iowa, and Dean appears to be running away with New Hampshire, but nationally, Clark is holding his own nicely.
In a CNN/USA Today poll released yesterday, Clark and Dean were tied for the national lead. (margin of error +/- 5%)
Clark — 16 percent
Dean — 16 percent
Lieberman — 14 percent
Gephardt — 12 percent
Kerry — 10 percent
Braun — 5 percent
Edwards — 5 percent
Braun — 5 percent
Sharpton — 4 percent
Kucinich — 3 percent
These results have remained pretty consistent in CNN/USAT polls over the last several weeks. The same goes for a Gallup poll released Friday, which has nearly identical results from a Gallup survey done in October.
Dean — 17 percent
Lieberman — 15 percent
Clark — 14 percent
Gephardt — 12 percent
Kerry — 10 percent
Edwards — 7 percent
Braun — 4 percent
Sharpton — 3 percent
Kucinich — 3 percent
A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll showed Clark with a slim national lead, but with very similar results to the other two polls.
Clark — 17 percent (16)
Dean — 15 percent (17)
Gephardt — 12 percent (8)
Kerry — 11 percent (11)
Lieberman — 11 percent
Edwards — 5 percent (4)
Sharpton — 4 percent (3)
Kucinich — 3 percent (2)
Braun — 3 percent (1)
The only noteworthy item about the WSJ/NBC results was the precipitous drop for Lieberman. Though the Connecticut senator was tied for fourth in this poll with 11 percent support, Lieberman’s support is down from 16 percent in September and down dramatically from the 25 percent support he enjoyed in a similar poll in July when he was in first place. (Why hasn’t he dropped out yet? I can’t remember)
Of course, national polls are interesting as indicators of national trends, and these polls can be used effectively in fundraising, but the primary process remains a state-by-state affair. And while Gephardt continues to look strong, at least for now, in Iowa, Dean’s lead in New Hampshire is so big, it’s almost silly.