Among Dartmouth students, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is expected to edge out retired Gen. Wesley Clark in today's primary election, a recent poll conducted by the Student Assembly and The Dartmouth has predicted.
According to the poll, 393 students have already registered to vote in today's New Hampshire Democratic primary.
Of those students, 102 reported that they plan to vote for Dean. Not far behind is Clark, whom 98 already-registered students said they would vote for. About 73 students said they planned to vote for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, and pulling in the rear of the top four candidates, poll results project that North Carolina Sen. John Edwards will get 42 votes from students in the projected run off.
In addition, 150 students said they plan to participate in New Hampshire's same-day registration policy and vote today. Forty-one of these students plan to vote for Clark, 25 for Kerry, 22 for Dean and 16 for Edwards.
In total, 543 students -- nearly 15 percent of all undergraduates -- indicated that they plan to vote in today's primary election.
Nearly 600 said they would not be participating in today's primary. The poll did not gauge how many students planned to vote in their home states.
Approximately 1,130 students took part in the poll, conducted from Friday to Monday evening via a website designed by the Assembly.
A previous student poll, conducted Fall term solely by The Dartmouth, found overwhelming disapproval of President Bush and strong support for Dean.
Support for Dean, according to the latest poll, has since faded to some extent, although the Dean campaign on campus appears to have gained momentum in recent weeks.
