Today a much coveted endorsement in New Hampshire politics was won by Senator Barack Obama.
Lenore Patton is the chairwoman of the Rockingham County Democrats and-- like every other party leader in NH -- had been relentlessly
courted by the Clinton campaign. Rockingham is one of the largest and most Democratic of NH's 10 counties -- it has a population of over
200,000, accounting for about 1 in 6 NH residents.
More below the fold
The Clinton strategy in NH relies very heavily on endorsements, key (they believe) to projecting inevitability; they have pursued them much more doggedly than Obama and have had much success. But this endorsement comes at a very good time for Obama, on the heels of Hillary's shaky debate performance and two days after a poll showed Obama cutting her lead to 10 points. This endorsement, as all endorsements, isn't going to change a ton of voters' minds about who to support, but it does feed into the newly fashionable storyline that doubt about Hillary is growing in NH and her that inevitability is finally being questioned. (Lenore Patton's husband Gary, mentioned in her endorsement letter, is the Democratic municipal chairman in the town of Hampton, about 10 miles south of Portsmouth.)
Obama Wins Coveted Endorsement
Congratulations Senator! This endorsement follows a very promising Rasumussen poll just released.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone poll of the state’s Likely Primary Voters shows Clinton leading Senator Barack Obama by ten percentage points, 34% to 24%. Former Senator John Edwards attracts 15% of the vote while New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson earns 8%. No other candidate tops the 3% level of support. (see crosstabs)
At 34%, Clinton’s current level of support is the lowest measured in any Rasmussen Reports poll this year. Four previous polls in New Hampshire found her consistently in the 37% to 40% range.
This is the first poll of the race conducted since Senator Hillary Clinton’s debate gaffe concerning drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. In the last poll before that debate, Clinton held a sixteen-point advantage over Obama. A month earlier, Clinton was ahead by twenty-three percentage points
And who can not forget the 68 New Hampshire Republicans who have crossed party lines and will vote for Obama in the primary.
Sixty-eight New Hampshire Republicans announce today that they have changed party registration to vote for Barack Obama in the primary. Many of these voters have never supported a Democrat before, but they see Obama as the only candidate in either party who has the character to be honest about where he'll take the country, and the only candidate who has a proven record of bringing people together for real change.
Obama Announces Support from 68 New Hampshire Republicans
Barack Obama is making the case in New Hampshire that he is for Change you can believe in and it looks like New Hampshire is for Obama.
Update 1: Marc Ambinger notes today that two new New Hampshire to be released this weekend show Clinton's lead to be diminishing.
The polls will be released this weekend and are embargoed; though I'm not privy to the embargo agreement, I'll be a little vague out of respect for the polling organizations.
One of the polls shows that the gap between Clinton and Barack Obama narrowed by more than 10 points. Her biggest decline was seen among older voters.
The other shows Clinton's lead over Obama reduced by approximately 9 points.
Two New Hampshire Polls Show Shrinking Clinton Lead
Update 2: This just in! Older Men for Obama in New Hamphire