Trump versus Jeb in New Hampshire on day before crucial primary

White House hopefuls Donald Trump and Jeb Bush opened political hostilities on Monday as Republican and Democratic candidates stormed across New Hampshire in a final flurry of events before the state's crucial first-in-the-nation primary.

In the race for the Democratic nomination, Senator Bernie Sanders from neighboring Vermont sought to hang on for a much-needed victory over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a week after a razor-thin loss to her in the Iowa caucuses.

Sanders told a crowd of about 500 people in Nashua that his call to eradicate income inequality and level the economic playing field for lower- and middle-class workers was resonating.

"I'm here today to ask your support, to join us in making that political revolution," he said.

Polls showed his big New Hampshire lead tightening but still sizable. Clinton hoped to make the finish close in a feat much like her husband's, former President Bill Clinton, in 1992 when he declared himself "the 'Comeback Kid.'"

“For those of you who are still deciding, still shopping, I hope I can close the deal,” Clinton said at Manchester Community College, campaigning with her raspy-voiced husband and daughter Chelsea.

Clinton was reported by Politico to be pondering a staff shakeup out of concern at the messaging of her campaign.

“I have no idea what they’re talking about or who they are talking to," Clinton, responding to the report, said on MSNBC. "We’re going to take stock, but it’s going to be the campaign that I’ve got. I’m very confident in the people that I have."

A snowstorm swept across the state but it did not slow down the last, tense full day of campaigning ahead of the primary.