|
Obama's lead over Clinton drops
19/03/2008 14:49 - (SA)
Washington - Democrat Barack Obama's big national lead over Hillary Clinton has all but evaporated in the US presidential race, and both Democrats trail
Republican John McCain, according a Reuters/Zogby poll released
on Wednesday.
The poll showed Obama had only a statistically insignificant lead of 47% to 44% over Clinton, down sharply from a 14 point edge he held over her in February when he was riding the tide of 10 straight victories.
Illinois Senator Obama, who would be America's first black
president, has been buffeted by attacks in recent weeks from
New York Senator Clinton over his fitness to serve as
commander-in-chief and by a tempest over racially charged
sermons given by his Chicago preacher.
The poll showed Arizona Senator McCain, who has clinched the
Republican presidential nomination, is benefiting from the
lengthy campaign battle between Obama and Clinton, who are now
battling to win Pennsylvania on April 22.
McCain leads 46% to 40% in a hypothetical match-up against Obama in the November presidential election, according to the poll.
That is a sharp turnaround from the Reuters/Zogby poll from
last month, which showed in a head-to-head match-up that Obama
would beat McCain 47% to 40%.
"The last couple of weeks have taken a toll on Obama and in
a general election match-up, on both Democrats," said pollster
John Zogby.
Matched up against Clinton, McCain leads 48% to 40%, narrower than his 50% to 38% advantage over her in February.
|
News
