Granite State remains a toss up, polling data suggest

BOSTON – With judgment day less than three weeks away, unexpected surges in Granite State popularity among the many candidates are fueling speculation that the presidential frontrunners of both parties aren't exactly locked in, and that the state remains in play.

John Kasich came in a solid second in the Republican field, trailing only Donald Trump, in a voter survey released Tuesday by American Research Group, an independent New Hampshire-based polling firm. According to ARG's data, the Ohio governor's popularity skyrocketed in just one week, climbing to 20 percent in Jan. 15-18 polling from 14 percent in Jan. 7-10 telephone interviews of 600 likely Republican primary voters. Trump, the billionaire businessman, gained just 2 percentage points in that period, to 27 percent from 25 percent. The survey has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.