Obama Closing In On Clinton In Ohio

February 25, 2008 9:35 AM | | Comments (0)

Two new polls are showing that Barack Obama appears to be closing the gap on Hillary Clinton in Ohio.

Her lead over Obama is now 47 percent to 39 percent with a 4.3 percent margin of error, according to the "Ohio Poll" conducted by the University of Cincinnati's Institute for Policy Research. The poll was conducted Feb.21-24. The Ohio Poll says three issues dominate the campaign among Democratic voters: the economy and jobs (41 percent), health care/health insurance (25 percent) and Iraq (16 percent).

On the Republican side, McCain leads Mike Huckabee 55 percent to 20 percent. Republicans rank the top issues in the campaign this way: the economy and jobs (30%), homeland security and national defense (16%), the war in Iraq (9%), health care and health insurance (8%), abortion (7%) and taxes (6%).

In the Quinnipiac University poll, , Clinton is leading Obama 51 percent to 40 percent with a 3.6 percent margin of error. The poll was conducted Feb.18-23. That compares to the 55 to 34 percent lead she enjoyed in a Feb. 14 survey.

Peter Brown of Quinnipiac says that while Clinton's lead remains substantial, "the trend line should be worrisome for her in a state that even her husband, former President Bill Clinton, has said she must win.” But he noted that "one thing going in her favor is that she is viewed more favorably than is he by Ohio likely Democratic primary voters."

Other findings in the Quinnipiac poll:

  • Obama leads Clinton 68 percent to 20 percent among black voters, a smaller margin than in many other states. Clinton leads among white voters 59 percent to 33 percent.
  • Picking Ohio Sen. George Voinovich as his running mate would not do John McCain much good, and might hurt him among Independents.
  • Ohio voters disapprove of President Bush's performance by 69 percent to 28 percent, his lowest rating ever in the state.
  • Ohio Voters believe the economy is in a recession by a wide margin but 56 percent still their own personal finances are excellent or good.
  • Ohioans believe 62 percent to 31 percent that going to war with Iraq was the wrong thing to do.

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