Obama Still Leads in Poll, But New Troubles Take Toll

He widens margin over Clinton, even as fewer expect him to be the nominee
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 30, 2008 9:01 PM CDT
Obama Still Leads in Poll, But New Troubles Take Toll
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., wears protective goggles while touring a factory in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 30, 2008.    (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Barack Obama increased his lead over Hillary Clinton in a national poll, but the newest Rev. Wright flap and his loss in Pennsylvania appears to have raised doubts about him in voters' minds, the New York Times reports. Democrats favor him over Clinton 46% to 38% in a Times/CBS poll, up from a 3-point lead last month, but fewer people expect him to be the nominee—51%, down from 69%.

Fewer people (48%, down from 56%) also label him the candidate with the best chance to defeat John McCain. In head-to-head matchups, he ties McCain at 45%, but Clinton beats McCain 48% to 43%. More than half of the 1,065 respondents described the party as divided, 70% don't expect the race to end before the convention, and 40% (up from 30%) say the economy is issue No. 1. The poll was conducted just before Obama's recent denunciation of Wright. (More Barack Obama stories.)

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