tracking polling showed that dean had been catching up to kerry in the days before the primary, cutting kerry's 18 point lead to 10 points in a matter of days. with dean dropping and kerry rising, it became apparent that the battle for 1st place in new hampshire would be close. also, for third place, wesley clark, john edwards and joe lieberman were the only ones fighting for third. with clark and edwards both taking hits going into the primary, a lieberman on the rise, the fight for 1st place and third place, according to polls would be intense.