Post-Debate, Clinton Pennsylvania Lead Slips

April 18, 2008 12:52
CQ Poll Tracker

Less than 24 hours after Wednesday's debate, Hillary Clinton appears to have lost a bit of her edge among likely Democratic voters in Pennsylvania, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released today. The telephone poll, conducted last night, shows Clinton with 47 percent of the vote and Barack Obama with 44 percent. On Monday, Clinton was leading Obama 50 percent to 41 percent.

Obama's support may be a little softer than Clinton's, according to Rasmussen, with 6 percent of his supporters saying there was "a good chance" they would change their mind before Tuesday, in contrast to Clinton's 2 percent. Both candidates are viewed favorably by more than 2/3 of likely Democratic voters, which is slightly down from prevous surveys.

Rasmussen adds: "Perhaps the worst news in the survey for Clinton has nothing to do with the race getting closer. Fifty-seven percent (57%) say that the Superdelegates should honor the results of the primaries even if 'something happens to convince Superdelegates that Hillary Clinton would have a better chance of beating John McCain.' If Clinton is deemed more electable, just 33% believe that the Superdelegates should select her over Obama."

This telephone survey of 730 voters had a margin of error of +/- 4 percentage points.