Obama Gains On Clinton In Ohio Dem Primary Quinnipiac University Likely Voter Poll Finds; College-Educated Voters In Big Shift To Obama
I'm actually surprised it's not closer, but, hey, there's more than a week left. But looks like there's plenty of room for improvement by Obama:
Buoyed by a big shift among college-educated voters, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is gaining on New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, who now leads 51 - 40 percent among Ohio likely Democratic primary voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
This compares to a 55 - 34 percent Clinton lead in a February 14 likely voter poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. College-educated voters back Sen. Obama 58 - 33 percent, compared to a 46 - 41 percent Clinton lead with these voters February 14.
Hillary still is holding on to a good part of her base:
On the eve of the only televised debate between the two Democratic contenders in Ohio and just one week before the crucial March 4 primary, Sen. Clinton's large margins among women, 53 - 36 percent; older voters, whites and those without a college education keep her out front.
But there are more inroads by Obama:
"For instance, while she held leads of four points and 27 points among likely primary voters below and over age 45 respectively earlier this month, now she trails by 52 - 42 percent among the younger group and her margin has shrunk to 55 - 35 percent among older voters," said Brown.
And this has to be a big underestimate of the eventual vote:
Compared to other states where Obama has taken more than 80 percent of the black vote, he leads 68 - 20 percent among blacks in Ohio, while Clinton leads among whites 59 - 33 percent.
UPDATE: Looks like a University of Cincinatti poll poll with a slighter later window (21-24 Feb versus 18-23 Feb) has a slightly closer race, 47-39. Here's the eye catcher though: This poll, unlike the Q-poll, included Edwards, who still gets 9%! Are these people principled or unaware?