Clinton leads Obama by double digits in new poll
Mon Jun 18, 10:48 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New York Sen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton has moved to a double-digit lead over her closest Democratic presidential rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record), according to a USAToday/Gallup poll released on Monday.
Among Republicans, the new poll showed former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson in second place behind former New York
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and slightly ahead of third-place Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record).
Polling data showed Clinton leading Obama 39 percent to 26 percent in a Democratic primary race that does not include former Vice President
Al Gore. With Gore in the match-up, Clinton leads Obama 33 percent to 21 percent.
An earlier USAToday/Gallup survey conducted June 1-3 had put Obama 1 percentage point ahead of Clinton, at 30 percent to 29 percent.
Gore, who lost the 2000 election to
President George W. Bush, has neither entered the race nor ruled out running.
Meanwhile, Thompson, who has not formally entered the Republican primary race, was at 19 percent, up 8 percentage points from the earlier poll. Giuliani's front-runner position was down 4 percentage points from last time to 28 percent, while McCain stood at 18 percent, down 1 percentage point.
The survey of 909 Democrats, Republicans and independents was conducted Monday to Thursday and has a 5 percentage point margin of error.