Clinton Lead Slipping In Pennsylvania

April 1, 2008 11:56 AM | | Comments (0)

Two polls – two different results – for the Democratic horse-race in Pennsylvania Rasmussen Reports has Hillary Clinton’s lead over Barack Obama down to 47 percent to 42 percent in a survey conducted March 31. The margin of error is 4 points. But SurveyUSA still has her ahead of Obama with a double-digit lead of 53 percent to 41 percent. This poll was conducted March 29-31.

But both pollsters agree that Clinton’s lead is shrinking since their last survey. Rasmussen’s March 24 poll had Clinton ahead 49 percent to 39 percent, and she had been leading in its March 12 poll by 51 percent to 38 percent. A Franklin & Marshall poll conducted March 11-16 had Clinton ahead 51 percent to 35 percent. The erosion of Clinton’s lead could be due to Obama’s decision to make a serious push in Pennsylvania in hopes of a knock-out blow despite the long advantage she has held there ads.

The Rasmussen poll says only 56 percent of Clinton supporters say they would vote for Obama over McCain if Obama wins the nomination compared to 40 percent who said they would not likely vote for him. If Clinton won, 69 percent of Obama supporters would vote for her compared to 29 percent who would not.

Fifty four percent of voters named the economy as the top issue and, of those, Clinton has a 16 point lead over Obama, Rasmussen says. Among the 19 percent who named Iraq, Obama has a 17 point advantage.

SurveyUSA says the major factor in Clinton’s declining lead was a swing to Obama by men voters. The pollster also says that Clinton is heavily favored by voters who are most concerned about the economy.

On the ground in Pennsylvania:

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