Sweet: Obama, on a roll, could close the deal at Democratic debate tonight. Can't afford a mistake. Polls trending towards Obama. Will be on Newsweek cover.

(Photo by Lynn Sweet)

The filing center at Saint Anselm College this evening just before the 7 p.m. eastern start of a debate double header–Republicans first and then the Democrats. This is a giant filing center, attracting so many outlets because every major contender is here tonight.

GOFFSTOWN, N.H.—Right now, White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is on a trajectory to win the Jan. 8 New Hampshire primary–if he does not make a mistake at tonight’s debate, where chief rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) is expected to be particularly aggressive.

A new CNN/WMUR poll shows Obama has closed his deficit in New Hampshire, riding on his Jan. 3 Iowa caucus win, now holding a 33-33 tie with Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards (D.N.C.) at 20 percent.

Coming off the decisive Iowa win, Obama will also be on the cover of Newsweek this week, adding to his momenteum. Clinton has been calling for more scrutiny of Obama and has the challenge tonight of drawing out differences without coming off as negative. Obama cannot make a mistake on substance, or that will feed into his chief weakness that he is not experienced enough.

This morning, Obama played basketball after a packed rally at a high school in Nashua. He spent the afternoon in his hotel–where another presidential candidate, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was also staying.

This from CNN/WMUR

NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

Democratic Primary Voters’

Choice for Nominee

Clinton 33%

Obama 33%

Edwards 20%

Richardson 4%

Kucinich 2%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

Democratic Primary Voters’

Choice for Nominee

Now Dec. 27-30

Clinton 33% 34%

Obama 33% 30%

Edwards 20% 17%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: I’m going to read you the names of the candidates who are running for the Democratic nomination. If the Democratic primary for president were held today, which of the following would you support for the Democratic nomination — Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, or someone else?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

Republican Primary Voters’

Choice for Nominee

McCain 33%

Romney 27%

Giuliani 14%

Huckabee 11%

Paul 9%

Hunter 1%

Thompson 1%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

Republican Primary Voters’

Choice for Nominee

Now Dec. 27-30

McCain 33% 29%

Romney 27% 29%

Giuliani 14% 12%

Huckabee 11% 10%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

Republican Primary Voters’

Choice for Nominee

McCain Romney

Now 33% 27%

December 27-30 29% 29%

December 13-17 34% 22%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: I’m going to read you the names of the candidates who are running for the Republican nomination. If the Republican primary for president were held today, which of the following would you support for the Republican nomination — Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson or someone else?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS

Best Chance of Beating

Republican Nominee?

Now Dec. 27-30

Clinton 36% 45%

Obama 35% 22%

Edwards 12% 16%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: Which Democratic candidate do you think has the best chance of beating the Republican candidate in the general election next November?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS

Best Chance of Beating

Democratic Nominee?

McCain 29%

Romney 28%

Giuliani 16%

Huckabee 6%

Paul 3%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS

Best Chance of Beating

Democratic Nominee?

Now Dec. 27-30

McCain 29% 25%

Romney 28% 38%

Giuliani 16% 16%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: Which Republican candidate do you think has the best chance of beating the Democratic candidate in the general election next November?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

Republican Primary Voters’

Strength of Support

Definitely decided 44%

Leaning to a candidate 29%

Still trying to decide 28%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS

Definitely Decided

Who To Vote For

Now 44%

December 27-30 33%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: Have you definitely decided who you will vote for in the New Hampshire primary, are you leaning toward someone, or have you considered some candidates but are still trying to decide?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

Democratic Primary Voters’

Strength of Support

Definitely decided 52%

Leaning to a candidate 26%

Still trying to decide 23%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS

Definitely Decided

Who To Vote For

Now 52%

December 27-30 41%

December 13-17 31%

December 6-10 24%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: Have you definitely decided who you will vote for in the New Hampshire primary, are you leaning toward someone, or have you considered some candidates but are still trying to decide?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS

Opinion of Candidates

Favorable Unfavorable

Obama 87% 13%

Edwards 82% 13%

Clinton 74% 19%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS

Opinion of Candidates

Favorable Unfavorable

McCain 81% 13%

Romney 65% 28%

Giuliani 63% 33%

Huckabee 57% 25%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS

Opinion of Mike Huckabee

Now September

Favorable 57% 30%

Unfavorable 25% 24%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS

Opinion of John McCain

Now September

Favorable 81% 63%

Unfavorable 13% 24%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS

Opinion of Mitt Romney

Now September

Favorable 65% 65%

Unfavorable 28% 24%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS

Opinion of Rudy Giuliani

Now September

Favorable 63% 71%

Unfavorable 33% 20%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: Next, I’d like to get your overall opinion of some of the candidates who are running or may run for President in 2008. As I read each name, please say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of this person – or if you have never heard of him or her. New York Senator Hillary Clinton Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani Arizona Senator John McCain Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards Illinois Senator Barack Obama?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS

Best Represents Values of

Democrats Like Yourself?

Obama 32%

Clinton 28%

Edwards 22%

Richardson 4%

Kucinich 3%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: Which Democratic candidate do you think best represents the values of Democrats like yourself?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS

Right Experience to be President?

Clinton 46%

Obama 14%

Edwards 13%

Richardson 7%

Kucinich 2%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: Which Democratic candidate do you think has the right experience to be President?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS

Most Inspiring?

Obama 60%

Clinton 18%

Edwards 13%

Kucinich 2%

Richardson 2%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: Which Democratic candidate do you think is most inspiring?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS

Most Likely to Bring

Needed Change to U.S.?

Obma 41%

Clinton 28%

Edwards 16%

Kucinich 2%

Richardson 2%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: Which Democratic candidate do you think is most likely to bring needed change to the U.S.?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS

More Important for Your Vote

Change 61%

Experience 29%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: When you think about who you will vote for, which is more important — their ability to bring change to the U.S. or their experience?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS

Best Represents Values of

Republicans Like Yourself?

McCain 31%

Romney 26%

Giuliani 13%

Huckabee 12%

Paul 9%

Thompson 2%

Hunter 1%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: Which Republican candidate do you think best represents the values of Republicans like yourself?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS

Right Experience to be President?

McCain 40%

Romney 25%

Giuliani 14%

Huckabee 6%

Paul 6%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: Which Republican candidate do you think has the right experience to be President?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS

Most Inspiring?

McCain 29%

Giuliani 17%

Romney 17%

Huckabee 16%

Paul 9%

Hunter 1%

Thompson 1%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: Which Republican candidate do you think is most inspiring?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS

Most Likely to Bring

Needed Change to U.S.?

McCain 23%

Romney 23%

Giuliani 14%

Paul 14%

Huckabee 13%

Thompson 1%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: Which Republican candidate do you think is most likely to bring needed change to the U.S.?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS

Is the Country Ready to

Elect a Mormon President?

Yes 65%

No 21%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: Do you think the country ready to elect a Mormon president?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS

Is Country Ready to Elect

A Black President?

Yes 78%

No 16%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts

QUESTION: Do you think the country ready to elect a black president?

CNN/WMUR NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL

January 4-5

LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS

Is Country Ready to Elect

A Woman President?

Yes 80%

No 15%

Sampling error: +/-5% pts