Graham in the spotlight, but not climbing polls

MANCHESTER, N.H. - With polls showing Sen. Bob Graham still lagging behind the other presidential candidates, the Florida Democrat will meet with his strategists this weekend to plot his next move.

The latest New Hampshire poll by the American Research Group shows Graham hasn't budged in the last month and still has only 2 percent of the vote. The frontrunner is former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean with 28 percent, followed by Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts with 21 percent, Rep. Richard Gephardt with 10 percent, Sen. Joe Lieberman with 4, and Graham and Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, each with 2.

The poll indicates Graham hasn't picked up support this summer in spite of his prominent role in the congressional inquiry into the Sept. 11 attacks. Graham made lots of headlines when the report was released in July, but those headlines apparently did not not boost his support.

Graham has also been lagging in fundraising, collecting just $2-million in the second quarter.

Graham strategist Steve Jarding said the meeting, scheduled for Saturday in Miami Lakes, had been planned since May and was not a reaction to any revent developments. Jarding acknowledged that Graham needed to pick up momentum, but said the candidate was well-positioned to do so.

"There is no question Graham has to move," Jarding said. "But he has the potential to move" because of his positions on key issues like terrorism and the economy.

Jarding said fundraising had also gained strength. "The numbers (in the next report) will be much larger," he said. "They have to be - we know that."

- Information from the Associated Press was included in this report

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 Contact the Times | Privacy Policy Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright