NPR: Obama Makes Up Ground in Pennsylvania

Obama Makes Up Ground in Pennsylvania

If this trend continues, Hillary Clinton is going to wish the Pennsylvania primary was held a week ago.

Two new polls show Barack Obama making up a fair bit of ground in the Keystone State. A new Rasmussen poll of 730 likely Democratic voters says Clinton leads 47% to 42% over Obama. In their last poll, a week ago, Clinton lead by ten percent.

A SurveyUSA poll of 1600 registered voters conducted exclusively for four Pennsylvania TV stations shows Clinton with a 12-point lead, a comfortable margin. But a SurveyUSA poll released three weeks ago showed her with a 19-point lead. Now she's down two points and Obama is up five. The poll showed Obama gaining ground cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and among older voters, men and conservative Democrats.

"In southeast Pennsylvania, which includes Philadelphia and makes up 43 percent of likely Democratic voters, the candidates have traded places: Clinton had been up two points but is now down three. In southwest Pennsylvania, which includes Pittsburgh, Clinton had led by 31, but now is at 17, a 14-point swing to Obama."
---
UPDATE: This is apparently not unexpected by some of Clinton's supporters. Yesterday Gov. Ed Rendell told ABC's Good Morning America, "We have a very strong lead, but I think that lead is going to shrink."

Lowering expectations? Or just reading the tea leaves?

2:05 PM ET | 04- 1-2008 | permalink

Comments

Oh I will be so happy if Obama wins PA and puts Clinton away for good!

Sent by ron | 2:35 PM ET | 04-01-2008

Does it really matter? I'd like to see some proof that we even have any democratic control over our government.

Sent by Jody Sol | 2:54 PM ET | 04-01-2008

That's really great!!! Obama '08!!!

I firmly believe that he is the best choice and hope that he continues to gather even more momentum.

Sent by Jeff | 3:19 PM ET | 04-01-2008

IMO, yes it matters. If after the primaries Obama has a lead in both the popular vote and delegate count (which he does currently), how can Clinton claim victory?

If Clinton somehow comes away with the nomination at this point, I think it will show that you are right -- the citizens who care enough to vote don't have any control over our government. Our vote is the only collective voice we have, most times.

Sent by ron | 3:22 PM ET | 04-01-2008

Ron, all it would prove is that citizens that vote democrat don't have any control over their own party.

Sent by deek | 4:03 PM ET | 04-01-2008

If Sen. Obama makes a good showing in Pennsylvania, it would demonstrate what a powerful candidate he is. Given the recent very large advantage held by Sen Clinton, it seems unlikely he could win. But, if he did, it would be an effective knock out (to use a Rocky metaphor) to the Clinton campaign.

Sent by Gary | 4:04 PM ET | 04-01-2008

ron: don't count your chickens before they're hatched. Even if Obama secures the party's nomination, he still has to face McCain *and* the possibility of a 3rd party spoiler (yes, Nader is exactly that mean and dumb). What the Dems need is to pick a candidate VERY SOON, before McCain gains too much ground to be defeated.

Sent by nathan | 4:42 PM ET | 04-01-2008

Nader rules!

Sent by Jody Sol | 6:15 PM ET | 04-01-2008

The Ohioans/Texans in were coyly dilly-dallying before their primaries until the 3AM fear bomb struck. Then they stampeded to the safe bosom of Hillary, the war goddess of the 'Bosnia sniper fire' fame.
Did it Prove that Texans are "All cow and no hat--"

If it works, use it again, so the wise saying goes.

Stay tuned on Penn primary: A fear bomb before their primary may yet reveal to us scampering-for-Bill Pennsylvanians that are "all cob and no corn" ----

Here is how the Penn folks are dilly-dallying. Remember that they are said to be mostly Catholic with strong family values - the 'salt of the earth' folks:
---------
Penn On infidelity:
Jennifer Flowers, Juanita Broderick, Paula Jones, Kathleen Wiley, Monica Lewinsky, ..... More please. 4 more years!
------
Hillary on Sin, Divorce and family values:
Don't punish the wrongdoer I love! Sin is not THAT bad!
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/12/19/hillary/
--------
On Law and Order: Great that 'bimbo eruptions' did not destroy Bill we love.
But, can you be censured if that punishment destroys your place in history? No you shouldn't be!
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/12/19/impeachment.01/
--------

Sent by chokora fukara | 3:15 AM ET | 04-02-2008

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