NH Swingers, McCain and Edwards

The Washington Post has a great piece today which basically reinforces my screed over at NBpolitico regarding NH swing voters (6:31 pm comment). Although, it looks better for whichever democrat finishes stronger in Iowa:

McCain's weakening hold on independents holds enormous potential for Obama. In opinion polls done by the University of New Hampshire this year, 55 to 70 percent of undeclared voters said they would vote in the Democratic primary. (In 2000, 62 percent of independents who voted did so in the GOP primary.) A few months ago, there was little sign that Obama was taking advantage, as polls showed him doing no better among undeclared voters intending to vote Democratic than he was among registered Democrats.

But in last week's UNH survey, he showed gains among undeclared voters intending to vote in the Democratic primary, with 36 percent saying they would vote for him and 26 percent saying they would vote for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), putting him in a tie with her overall. Obama's advisers here say it simply took a little longer for independent voters to move to him than it did for them to rally around Bradley in 2000, because Obama is newer to the political scene.

A report from ABC last night shows growing support in Iowa for John Edwards and his "America Rising" tour:

ABC News' Raelyn Johnson reports: As his eight day bus tour through Iowa winds down, John Edwards is starting to bring audiences to their feet when he talks about America rising.

[...]

With both candidates and caucus-goers focused on a cold night in January, Edwards pointed in the direction of the media gathered in the back of the room, predicting, "They all think they know what’s going to happen, they’re dissecting the polls. ... Wait 'til they see what’s coming."

What is America rising?

"We have a fight in front of us, we have a fight for the future of this country," he said. "We need someone who is going to step into that arena on your behalf, someone who is ready for that fight, somebody who has got it inside, somebody who has the toughness and strength and fight.

"Brothers and sisters, I was born for this fight," he told the more than 500 people jammed into a high school gym to hear him.

In addition, his movie trailer apparently has been bringing people to their feet all over NH and Iowa. I say watch out for Edwards, with this late surge on the ground, he just may rise up from the ashes of an Obama vs. Hillary war. Moreover, you know what they say about momentum.