NPR: Gallup Poll: Obama Increases Lead Over Clinton

Gallup Poll: Obama Increases Lead Over Clinton

In one of the first polls to come out since Sen. Barack Obama's comments about "bitter" Pennsylvanian voters "clinging" to religion and guns, The Gallup Daily Tracking Poll shows that Obama has narrowly increased his lead over Sen. Hillary Clinton, 50% to 40%.

"That 10-point lead matches Obama's best of the campaign, and even as the controversy has dominated the political airwaves, Obama's support remained strong in tracking interviews conducted on Saturday and Sunday. It is likely Clinton and Republican John McCain will continue to remind voters of the remarks, and the possibility remains that it could affect voters in the coming days, but so far they seem unaffected by the controversy."

In a general election, Obama leads Sen. John McCain 46% to 44%. Clinton leads McCain 46% to 45%

2:36 PM ET | 04-14-2008 | permalink

Comments

Wow.

1. It's not about "bitter."
2. It's not only about Pennsylvania.
3. President McCain.

Sent by deek | 3:01 PM ET | 04-14-2008

Hillary rightly received a chorus of groans when she tried to rehash the non-controversy today at a speech in PA:

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/14/888068.aspx

Sent by Nicole | 3:03 PM ET | 04-14-2008

I don't know about this poll, but in pennsylvania, the paper says he tanked. Where did this poll come from.

Sent by suze | 3:26 PM ET | 04-14-2008

Senator Clinton has a better chance to defeat McCain in the general election. Baraka's politics is too shallow and too divisive.

Sent by Solomon Iyasere | 3:26 PM ET | 04-14-2008

I love in Philadelphia but I have a LOT of friends and family out in York County and other parts of the states where those good union jobs USED to be.

Those folks out there are not upset by the "bitter" statement. My brother and sister-in-law who visited Philadelphia over the weekend were thrilled that someone finally was willing to bluntly and honestly name the problem and acknowledge the problems faced by a generation of adults who have come of age in this post-manufacturing world.

Sent by JD | 3:35 PM ET | 04-14-2008

Hillary's use of Republican attacks on liberals isn't going to get her or the party where she wants to go. I think most voters understand the broader issues Obama was speaking about and aren't going to pillory him for speaking about real problems, even if his choice of words wasn't the best in this instance.

Sent by Sweetie | 3:46 PM ET | 04-14-2008

What about this poll?
http://americanresearchgroup.com/

Almost 20 points for Clinton.

Ouchy. Maybe it isn't about the "bitter" afterall.

Sent by deek | 4:13 PM ET | 04-14-2008

I agree totally with Sweetie. I think the "elitist" in the media are the ones fanning the flames. My 73 year old father in Missouri feels that Obama struck a chord with the truth. He feels nothing upsets the applecart more than having truthful statements aired. If you read the whole text of what Obama said, I feel he didn't look down on anyone.

Sent by Anne Davis | 4:24 PM ET | 04-14-2008

Obama is connecting with common folks. I'm not only bitter, I'm disgusted with the daily struggle to work and earn and spend everything on taxes, gasoline, utilities...get the idea? Go Obama!

Sent by Donna Engstrom | 4:40 PM ET | 04-14-2008

There will be a massive campaign blitz by the democrats linking McCain to Mr. 28%. All this stuff is small potatoes.

Sent by Mike Fleissner | 4:41 PM ET | 04-14-2008

I read these polls, and wonder how stupid the media thinks that we are -- every day they say who is up, who is down, who is "winning" -- why don't they just vote for us, too? Isn't anyone else sick of this?

Sent by Hudsonville | 4:43 PM ET | 04-14-2008

I guess that Pennsylvanian voters are smarter than either Clinton or McCain gave them credit for.

Sent by Randy | 4:43 PM ET | 04-14-2008

Is anyone keeping score on the mis-statements by the two Democratic candidates? As Obama once said "it's the silly season". Both are equal in this matter. I will cast my vote to the person who has managed his campaign as that shows me how HE will run his presidency. The politics of change does not include a campaign manager tripping off and doing something contrary to his employer's wishes nor a husband who profits by also being contrary. Two for one is not a bargain.

Sent by pragmatic pete | 4:44 PM ET | 04-14-2008

So now the senator from New York is running a God and Guns campaign? Is she angling for a spot on the McCain ticket?

Sent by FJL | 5:25 PM ET | 04-14-2008

Zowie!

1. It's not about a failed war.
2. It's not only about states without a coastline.
3. John McCain retires (he's earned it, i won't begrudge him any of it)in 09.

Sent by tim in exile | 12:31 PM ET | 04-15-2008

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