Vice-President Al Gore and Governor George Bush of Texas have stepped up campaigning in New Hampshire, following their decisive victories in the Iowa caucuses. The New Hampshire primary is on February 1st.
Mr Gore crushed his Democratic rival, the former senator, Mr Bill Bradley, by almost two to one in Iowa, where the latter had spent $2 million in TV advertising and 63 days campaigning.
Mr Bush easily defeated his five Republican rivals by polling 41 per cent, the highest ever recorded by a Republican candidate in a contested Iowa caucus. But his main conservative rivals, the billionaire magazine publisher, Mr Steve Forbes, and the former ambassador, Mr Alan Keyes, also polled much better than expected. Senator Orrin Hatch, who finished last, has now dropped out.
Mr Forbes and Mr Keyes will increase the pressure on Mr Bush in New Hampshire on abortion. They claim Mr Bush is not as committed to an anti-abortion stance as they are. A too rigid anti-abortion stance which would allow for no exceptions would alienate many women voters in the presidential election, Bush aides fear.
Mr Bush is behind his main rival, Senator John McCain, in the opinion polls in New Hampshire, but so-called "independent" voters will closely watch their performance in tonight's public debate before making up their minds.
Mr McCain has begun portraying himself as the "Commander" in TV ads and emphasising his military record as a Vietnam war hero and prisoner of war, and by implication Mr Bush's inexperience for the White House.
Mr Bradley will need to put up a better showing against Mr Gore tonight than he did when they debated in Iowa. After leading Mr Gore in opinion polls in New Hampshire, he is now behind in most polls.
Mr Bradley's supporters are hoping that he will campaign more aggressively against Mr Gore, who has been attacking his plans for a universal health insurance as a threat to existing health plans for the middle class.
The size of Mr Gore's victory over Mr Bradley was a setback for the latter but is not too significant. Winners in Iowa in past elections have usually not ended up winning their party's nomination. But Mr Gore's success has exposed weaknesses in the Bradley campaign, which seemed to flounder under attack from a much more aggressive Vice-President.
Mr Bradley has the financial resources to continue campaigning until "Super Tuesday" on March 7th, including the vital states of New York and California. But a second defeat for Mr Bradley in New Hampshire next Tuesday could leave him in a hopeless position against Mr Gore, who is seen as unbeatable in the southern states.