ONCORD, N.H. - Republican John McCain and Democrat Bill Bradley have gained support from independents and women in New Hampshire in the last two months, according to a Dartmouth College-Associated Press poll.
The poll released yesterday suggested that McCain and Bradley improved their standing with registered voters in their own parties in New Hampshire, which has a primary Feb. 1. Both Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush, the Democratic and Republican front-runners nationally, had the advantage in a November poll of New Hampshire voters by the same organization.
In the latest poll, taken Jan. 9-12, McCain had 42 percent support to 33 percent for Bush in the Republican race; Bradley was at 49 percent to 43 percent for Gore.
The previous poll, conducted Oct. 31-Nov. 3, had Bush in the lead, 44 percent to 31 percent, and Gore had an edge over Bradley, 48 percent to 41 percent.
The margin of error for the sample of 518 likely voters in the Republican primary was 4.5 percentage points. It was plus or minus 5 percentage points for the 418 likely voters in the Democratic primary.
The other GOP candidates - publisher Steve Forbes, former UN Ambassador Alan Keyes, conservative activist Gary Bauer and Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah - trail the front-runners. Only Forbes was in double digits, with 11 percent, the same as in November.
Both the Republican and Democratic races are very close, with many New Hampshire polls showing a tilt toward McCain and Bradley, and others showing the races too close to call or with an edge for Bush and Gore.
McCain pulled slightly ahead of Bush on the questions of who is perceived as most trustworthy and as providing the strongest leadership, according to the poll.
McCain improved his appeal with women by 16 percentage points since November, and is now supported equally by men and women - 42 percent among each group, the poll showed. He also improved his standing with independents by 16 points.
Marise LaPorte, 62, of Milford, attended a meeting held by McCain last week and liked his straightforward approach. ''It seems that when something comes up, McCain addresses it. He doesn't evade the issue. He meets things head-on,'' she said.
