---
title: "Forbes Draws Even With Dole In New Hampshire"
description: "Report Summary Political newcomer Steve Forbes has moved into a statistical tie with Bob Dole for top honors in the New Hampshire primary.  A Pew Research Center poll of 543 likely voters taken January 25-28 finds the millionaire publisher leading the Senator 29% to 24%, but the lead is within the poll’s margin of sampling […]"
date: "1996-01-29"
authors:
  - name: "Pew Research Center"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/1996/01/29/forbes-draws-even-with-dole-in-new-hampshire/"
---

# Forbes Draws Even With Dole In New Hampshire

## Report Summary

Political newcomer Steve Forbes has moved into a statistical tie with Bob Dole for top honors in the New Hampshire primary. A Pew Research Center poll of 543 likely voters taken January 25-28 finds the millionaire publisher leading the Senator 29% to 24%, but the lead is within the poll's margin of sampling error. Well behind the two front runners are Lamar Alexander (11%), Pat Buchanan (11%), and Phil Gramm (10%), all in a statistical tie for third place. All other candidates register less than 5% support. ................ Dole continues to hold a lead, 31% to 24%, over Forbes among registered Republicans likely to vote in the New Hampshire primary. However, the New Jersey publisher holds a 2-to-1 lead over the Senate majority leader among Independents who plan to vote in the state's GOP primary (34% vs. 17%). Forbes out-polls Dole among middle income and lower income groups, while Dole leads among more affluent voters. The poll also revealed a gender gap in which men divide their support evenly between Forbes and Dole (30% to 29%), but Forbes enjoys a 27% to 19% margin over Dole among women.

### A Clinton Lead In New Hampshire

The Pew Research Center poll was taken at the end of a week in which Bob Dole was widely criticized for his post-State of the Union address, while challenger Forbes was featured on the covers of both Time and Newsweek magazines. Nonetheless, both Republicans trail Bill Clinton in the general election match-ups. The President leads Dole 52% to 36% and wins over Forbes by a thinner 48% to 41% margin in the traditionally Republican state. Likely New Hampshire voters have a negative opinion about most of the GOP presidential candidates. Only Dole, Forbes and Alexander are rated favorably by majorities, as the table below shows.

### Opinion of Likely Primary Voters

```
Favorable Unfavorable  Don't Know

Bob Dole                 56         41        3=100

Steve Forbes             59         32        9=100

Lamar Alexander          51         28        21=100

Phil Gramm               44         43        13=100

Pat Buchanan             41         53        6=100

Richard Lugar            24         33        43=100
```