ASHINGTON - Texas Governor George W. Bush has edged ahead of Sen. John McCain in a New Hampshire tracking poll of the Republican presidential candidates and retains his commanding lead nationally in a new poll released yesterday. On the Democratic side, Vice President Al Gore has built on his national lead over Bill Bradley in the CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll, while the two competitors remain locked in a close race in New Hampshire, which holds the first primary on Feb. 1. Gore led Bradley, a former New Jersey senator, 59 percent to 30 percent in the new national poll. Last month, Gore was ahead, 52 percent to 38 percent, in the same poll. While a recent Newsweek poll showed Gore would fare better against Bush than Bradley, the CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll offered conflicting findings. The race would be very close between Bush and Bradley, 49 percent to 47 percent, among likely voters, while Gore trailed Bush among likely voters, 52 percent to 43 percent. Bush had a slight edge over both among registered voters. The tracking poll by the American Research Group suggests movement for Bush over the last month. (AP)
Iowans question Gore's electability
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Wavering Democrats questioned Vice President Al Gore yesterday about his electability and the lingering taint of President Clinton's impeachment scandal. Gore countered, ''I'm running for president on my own, as who I am.'' Bill Bradley, Gore's Democratic primary opponent, was campaigning in Iowa too. He turned out in a barn outside Des Moines to polish his appeal to farmers with the endorsements of prominent Iowa farm leaders, including Bob Bergland, agriculture secretary under President Carter. (AP)
Frist, Collins will give GOP response
WASHINGTON - Two of the Senate's newest, youngest and least partisan Republicans have the task of giving their party's response following President Clinton's State of the Union address later this month. Senators Bill Frist of Tennessee and Susan Collins of Maine, both 47-year-old freshmen known for their non-confrontational styles, will portray the policies and image of the Republican Party following Clinton's Jan. 27 speech to Congress. (AP)
