NPR: Obama Gains in Ohio, But Clinton Lead Still Strong

Obama Gains in Ohio, But Clinton Lead Still Strong

Sen. Barack Obama has picked up some ground on Sen. Hillary Clinton in Ohio, but Clinton still holds a double-digit lead, accord to a new Ohio Poll from Quinnipiac University. She now leads Obama by a 51 percent to 40 percent margin. A Feb. 14 poll had Clinton ahead 55-34.

The pollsters attribute the change to a swing to Obama among college-educated likely Democratic voters. Clinton's large margins among women, 53 - 36 percent; older voters, whites and those without a college education keep her out front. Obama's lead among African-Americans is large, but smaller than in other states. Normally Obama has been taking 80 percent of this demographic in other primaries and caucuses but in Ohio the poll shows that lead at 68 - 20 percent.

"Sen. Clinton's lead remains substantial, but the trend line should be worrisome for her in a state that even her husband, former President Bill Clinton, has said she must win," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Sen. Obama, to no one's surprise given his momentum nationally, has made inroads, especially among some of Sen. Clinton's softer supporters," said Brown. "If she is to stop his momentum in Ohio, she must retain her margins among her core backers - women, older voters and those lower on the social-economic and education scale."

The survey was carried out between February 18 - 23, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,853 Ohio registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percent.

9:30 AM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink

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