Got these poll results from Atrios's blog. While the percentage points of support for each candidate were interesting, I found the "core levels of support" more compelling:
- 93% of all those saying they will vote for Kerry are strongly committed to Kerry.
- 89% of all those saying they will vote for Dean are strongly committed to Dean.
- 54% of all those saying they will vote for Clark are strongly committed to Clark.
If the Clark campaign can convince more of the "lukewarm" Clark supporters in New Hampshire, we can beat Kerry and come in second. In many ways, the second place candidate in New Hampshire is more important than the winner, whom will almost certainly be Howard Dean.
In many ways, being second (a close second, that is) is a better position than being first. Especially in this primary campaign, the frontrunner has been the "man to beat," and is therefore subject of attacks from all of the other candidates.