The Hiller Instinct: 7News/Suffolk Poll: Beating Bush

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If the New Hampshire democratic primary were a stock car race, Howard Dean would be in front. But Wesley Clark would be catching up, passing John Kerry for second and putting Kerry in the breakdown lane.

Likely New Hampshire democratic primary voters like Dean. They don't think he's too blunt or wrong when he says capturing Saddam Hussein doesn't make them feel safer. But Clark has an opening…

Prof. David Paleologos, Suffolk University Pollster
"He's only three points behind Dean among independents. If independents ambush the democratic primary on January 27th, Clark has an excellent chance to close the margin and possibly take him."

Still, our poll of likely democratic primary voters shows they think Dean, not Clark, would give President Bush the best fight.

Prof. David Paleologos
"And it may well be that's because of his frankness and the fact that he's blunt."

Likely democratic primary voters are frustrated with the president, but respect his political strength. While no weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq and no links between Saddam Hussein and al Queda discovered, when we asked who will be the next president, Bush more than doubled Dean and Clark was a distant third.

Andy Hiller
"If you're George Bush and you see this poll, what do you think?"

Prof. David Paleologos
"This is great, go Wesley Clark!"

Dean will be hard to catch in New Hampshire. The problem for the democrats is it may be even harder to catch the president. Because right now it looks like the only one who can beat Bush is Bush himself.