Dole, Buchanan Neck-And-Neck In N.H. Polls

Bob Dole and Pat Buchanan were tied for the lead in New Hampshire in all five nightly polls tracking likely voters in Tuesday’s Republican presidential primary.

The surveys conducted through Thursday or Friday night generally found Dole with little momentum, up or down. Over the past several days, Lamar Alexander has continued gaining slightly, Buchanan at best only marginally.

In one poll, Alexander was tied for the lead. In two others he edged into third place ahead of Steve Forbes, who has steadily fallen in most surveys and on Saturday hinted a fourth-place finish might prompt him to drop out.

Buchanan surged in New Hampshire polling after he upset Texas Sen. Phil Gramm in Louisiana’s limited GOP caucuses on Feb. 6, but apparently got less of a bounce after finishing a strong second to Dole in the Iowa caucuses Monday night.

Alexander, a respectable third in Iowa, has gained the most in New Hampshire tracking polls since then - an average of about 8 percentage points. Forbes was down by an average of 6 points.

Polls also suggest Buchanan is vulnerable over whether he would be viable as the GOP nominee against President Clinton, and as president. Yet his support is more committed than any other candidate’s.