A survey of likely primary voters in New Hampshire shows Hillary with a significant lead over Senators Obama and Edwards (40% to 25% and 23%, respectively) in the race for the Democratic nomination. A nationwide Newsweek poll gives Hillary a similar double-digit lead over Obama, 55% to 35%.

I don't get it. Where are these Hillary supporters? The consensus among bloggers is that a Clinton nomination would unify Republicans and is perhaps the only chance the GOP has at winning the 2008 election. When I speak with friends and family, most express trepidation over her ability to win and are much more enthusiastic about Barack Obama. Even those who like her don't like the idea of having three decades of combined Bush/Clinton governance.

Are the polls inaccurate? Granted, I haven't discussed the topic at length with a representative sample of Americans, but I think I would have trouble finding a single person who would emphatically pick Clinton over Obama or Edwards at this point.

It's too early to really make predictions. In 2003 and early 2004, we all thought Dean would run away with the nomination. But a cynical friend warned me: Follow the money; he predicted Kerry's financial dominance would secure him the nomination. And that seems to be the one area where Clinton can clearly take control.