Republicans and Democrats Debate Change and Experience

Main Topic

On the Eve of the New Hampshire Primary ()

Between Friday and yesterday, the Gallup Poll sampled likely voters in tomorrow's first primary. The poll, taken over the weekend, shows that New Hampshire has become a different political world since last week's Iowa caucuses. Despite months of intense and expensive campaigning, Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney are in real trouble in the nation's first presidential primaries. Barack Obama is way ahead among Democrats; John McCain is the leading Republican. However, today, even as Obama was making his familiar appeal—not just to Democrats, but across party lines, Hillary Clinton said there's no way she's quitting the race, even if she bombs in New Hampshire. We hear what seems to be shaping the changes in public opinion and what they could mean for voting tomorrow and beyond.

Guests:

• Dean Spiliotes: Political scientist, analyst and blogger
• Frank Newport: Editor in Chief, Gallup Poll
• Barbara Pressly: Independent voter, New Hampshire
• David Wunsch: Independent voter, New Hampshire
• David Corn: Washington Bureau Chief, Mother Jones
• Dan Schnur: Communications Director, McCain's 2000 Presidential Campaign

Links:

• December Gallup Poll on Romney, other GOP candidates
• Weisman's (Washington Post) article on GOP doubt, fear of 'post-partisan' Obama
• Corn's article on negativity in the New Hampshire debates
• December Gallup Poll on Obama, Clinton
• New Hampshire presidential debates

Reporter's Notebook

Supreme Court Hears Lethal Injection Case ()

In death penalty cases, many states use a three-drug cocktail for what's called "lethal injection." It begins with sodium thiopental to render the prisoner unconscious; pancuronium bromide paralyzes all muscle movement; potassium chloride induces cardiac arrest. Two condemned men in Kentucky claim that some convicts are awake and able to feel excruciating pain, which means they suffer "cruel and unusual punishment" as prohibited by the eighth amendment. Today, the US Supreme Court took up their case. Professor Alison Nathan wrote an amicus brief for today's case on behalf of the Law and Ethics Center at Fordham Law School in New York City.