The Hiller Instinct: 7News/Suffolk Poll: Decision '04

View the Poll Results

Howard Dean may be unstoppable in New Hampshire. In our 7News-Suffolk poll, he's way out in front, far ahead of John Kerry and Wesley Clark.

Prof. David Paleologos, Suffolk University Pollster
"Howard Dean has separated himself from the pack and this is now a race for second place."

Once the front-runner, John Kerry must now fight to finish second - and our poll says he has only himself to blame. Asked to rate his campaign, 38 percent termed it worse than expected, only 14 percent termed it better than expected.

Prof. David Paleologos, Suffolk University Pollster
"He's only two percent ahead of Wesley Clark for the second spot. If he doesn't finish in second place, he has no place to go in the country."

Wesley Clark may go to second place on the party ticket.

When we asked which Democrat likely voters preferred for vice president, Clark finished first.

Andy Hiller, Political Editor
"Will you rule out the vice presidency? Would you say you would not be the vice president?"

Wesley Clark, (D) Presidential candidate
"I haven't even thought about questions like that."

But the biggest winner in our poll is the president. While a majority of likely Democratic primary voters believe Bush has divided the country more than united it, and lack confidence in his ability to deal wisely with an international crisis, more expect Bush will be the next president than Dean, the top Democrat:

Prof. David Paleologos, Suffolk University Pollster
"It means through of all the weaknesses that we tracked in the polling, he still is perceived to be a strong and decisive leader."

Unless the Democrats change that perception, they won't beat Bush. And, as for John Kerry, if he wants to be the comeback kid in New Hampshire, he'll have to come back from the dead.