Poll: Paul on the rise in New Hampshire

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) narrowly leads the Republican field in New Hampshire, according to a new poll, while Hillary Clinton holds a massive lead on the Democratic side. 

{mosads}The Bloomberg/Saint Anselm College poll finds that Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee, far and away leads among Republican primary voters, with 30 percent support. However, despite speculation and a few hints, Romney has repeatedly said he is not going to run.

Among the more likely candidates, Paul leads, with 11 percent. The poll highlights the uncertainty and crowded field on the Republican side, though.

Just 2 points back is New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 9 percent; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is at 8 percent; and neurosurgeon and conservative star Ben Carson is at 6 percent.

The Democratic side, by contrast, has one dominant figure: Clinton. The former secretary of State gets 62 percent support, compared to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), in second place, with 13 percent.

Much has been made of a possible Warren challenge to Clinton from the left, but in addition to Warren’s denials that she will run, Clinton continues to dominate the polls. Clinton has just a 9 percent unfavorable rating among Democratic primary voters in the state, and 88 percent favorable.

Warren’s unfavorable is actually 2 points higher, at 11 percent, with 61 percent favorable.

Following Warren in the Democratic field are Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)  at 6 percent, Vice President Biden at 5 percent, and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley at 1 percent.  

One warning sign for Democrats, heading toward the general election, could be the question of which side “cares about people like you,” an area where Democrats usually score high. But this poll found a virtual tie among general election voters, with Democrats at 40 percent and Republicans at 39 percent.