Clinton slipping in California, poll shows

[ariesgem]

By BEN GOAD
Washington Bureau

Hillary Clinton's lead over Barack Obama dropped by more than 10 percentage points in the past three months, according to a poll of likely voters in California's Democratic primary that was released today.

The 25-point lead that Sen. Clinton, D-N.Y., held in October over Sen. Obama, D-Ill., has dwindled to 14 points, according to the Field Poll, prepared for The Press-Enterprise and other California media subscribers.

Currently, 36 percent of those likely to vote in the state's Feb. 5 Democratic primary favor Clinton, a significant decrease from the 45 percent of voters who preferred her in October.




Obama saw a slight increase to 22 percent in the current poll, from 20 percent in October. However, this month's poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.

Meanwhile, the number of undecided likely Democratic voters has more than doubled since March, the poll revealed. Twenty percent of such voters told pollsters they are uncertain.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards finished behind "undecided" in the poll, with 13 percent of likely Democratic voters in the state saying they preferred him.

The phenomenon in California, a state widely expected to go to the Democratic nominee in the general election, mirrors polling data elsewhere in the country.

"California is clearly reflecting what we're seeing in Iowa and New Hampshire," said Bruce Cain, director of the University of California Washington Center. "Democrats are basically trying to determine which of these candidates has the best chance to win in November."

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_field19.311871a.html

[Richard Steele]

1. People: the more they get to know her, the more they like someone else. nm

[K Gardner]

4. You beat me to it. Pfft.

[Richard Steele]

7. Around here, ya gotta be QUICK, Itellyawhut! nm

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. She is winning the anti-vote!!!!

People in California know what's up, before Iowa.

[K Gardner]

5. So did you. Pfft.

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. You sound reasonable

...Time to up my medication.

Good News everyone! Bender is no longer a robot!

[Richard Steele]

10. Hide your shame, mon!

And welcome to DU!:hi:



(Futurama reference, for those of you who didn't get that comment)

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[annie1]

3. So have barack's. edwards is the only one who's stayed even since march.

[MadBadger]

6. March was a totally different part of the campaign

Obama was hot back then. Then he cooled off, and now hes gaining steam. Im really looking since OCtober what happened in this poll. She is down 9 and he is up 2.

[Hieronymus]

9. Edwards is the only one that has gained in that poll.

[MadBadger]

12. That's just not true

Since October, Obama and Edwards have gone up two points.

[GreenTea]

13. John Edwards is strong in northern California, he'll surprise and win.