YIKES – HILLARY FADES – AT 8:14 A.M. ET:  A new poll shows Bernie Sanders surging ahead of Hillary in New Hampshire, which, of course, will hold the first major primary.  From the Boston-Herald: 

Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has rocketed past longtime front-runner Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire, a stunning turn in a race once considered a lock for the former secretary of state, a new Franklin Pierce University/Boston Herald poll shows.

Vice President Joe Biden got 9 percent support in the test primary match-up. The other announced Democrats in the race, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee and former Virginia Gov. Jim Webb, barely register at 1 percent or below.

The live interview phone poll was conducted Aug. 7-10 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.

Clinton is still viewed overwhelmingly by voters as the likely Democratic nominee, but the results suggest she faces an unexpectedly difficult fight to prevent an embarrassing opening loss in the first-in-the-nation primary.

The Franklin Pierce/Herald poll shows that most New Hampshire Democrats are lukewarm to Clinton, despite her campaign’s concerted effort to soften her image and connect with voters.

Just 35 percent of likely primary voters say they are “excited” about Clinton’s campaign, according to the poll. And 51 percent of voters say that while they could support her, they aren’t enthusiastic about her White House bid.

And while 80 percent of likely Granite State Democrats view her favorably, just 38 percent of those say they have a “very” favorable impression.

Sanders’ rise has been meteoric. The socialist senator trailed Clinton by a 44-8 margin in a Franklin Pierce/Herald poll in March.

COMMENT:  Well, I guess it gives our side some satisfaction to see this, but let's be careful what we wish for.  Let's say Hillary is toppled, or even withdraws from the nomination race because of poor polls, a possible indictment, or both.   Who's left?  Bernie?  Lizzie Warren?  In terms of policy, they could be much worse.

And let's also recall that Jimmy ("Why not the best?") Carter couldn't wait to run against Ronald Reagan in 1980.  He thought he'd roll over the "extremist warmonger."  Then Americans saw them both on the same strange, and it was all over.  Reagan was a president.  Carter, even though holding the presidency, was a local postmaster. 

I disagree with Bernie on almost everything, but he has a certain "my favorite uncle" appeal.  Don't underestimate him.  I think Hillary would be easier to beat.

August 12,  2015