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Hillary leads Obama

WASHINGTON: A new poll on Monday — ahead of two decisive primaries in Indiana and North Carolina on Tuesday — gave U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton’s White House hopes fresh impetus against her rival Senator Barak Obama, whose standing has been “significantly damaged” by the controversy over his former pastor.

The erosion of support among Democrats and independents raises the stakes in Tuesday’s primaries, which represent a chance for Mr. Obama to reassert his claim to a Democratic presidential nomination that seems nearly in his grasp.

According to the findings of a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, some voters had raised questions about Mr. Obama’s values, credibility and electability after the controversy over his pastor broke out. In the survey taken last week, Ms. Clinton was ahead of Mr. Obama by 7 percentage points, the first time in three months she has been ahead.

Two weeks ago, before the controversy over comments by Pastor Jeremiah Wright reignited, Mr. Obama led by 10 points. In February, voters said Mr. Obama had a better shot at beating Republican John McCain in November. — PTI

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