(AP)
The poll shows Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama tied at 41 percent with just 14 percent of Democratic primary voters undecided. More and more, Super Tuesday is beginning to look like just one more day in a long and unpredictable contest, but the poll does have one encouraging piece of news – in those states voting tomorrow, she has a substantial 49 percent to 31 percent lead.
Some highlights from the poll:
Obama now leads among men, 46 percent to 34 percent. Last month, Clinton led by a 40 percent to 29 percent margin. Obama now has a slight edge among white men and has seen his support among that group of voters jump from 23 percent to 40 percent in the past month.Clinton's supporters appear more solidly behind her candidacy, just 35 percent of those supporting her said they could change their minds before voting, compared to 42 percent of Obama supporters.Obama has cut into Clinton's argument of electability, 41 percent say he is the most electable in a general election. Forty-six percent said Clinton is. That's a dramatic change just since December when just 14 percent said Obama was the most electable while 63 percent said Clinton. Clinton is still perceived as the likely nominee. Despite who they are supporting personally, 45 percent said Clinton is most likely to win the Democratic nomination. Just 36 percent said Obama.Bill Clinton trumps Ted Kennedy among Democratic primary voters, the poll suggests. While 70 percent say Bill Clinton's involvement in his wife's campaign makes no difference in their support, 18 percent said it makes them more likely to back her. Still, 12 percent said Kennedy's endorsement of Obama makes it more likely to support him.And, despite the fact that 68 percent of Democratic primary voters see just minor policy differences between the two candidates, Clinton is seen as best able to manage the economy, by far the number one issue on voters' minds. By a 58 percent to 28 percent margin, Clinton was seen as better able to handle the economy.McCain Making Inroads: The CBS News poll on Republicans indicates a clearer picture of the race, with John McCain leading Mitt Romney among likely primary voters by a 46 percent to 23 percent margin. McCain is seen as the most electable candidate by 65 percent of GOP voters and leads among self-described conservatives, a part of the party which he has had trouble courting. But 52 percent said they could still change their minds.
Super Move? Depending on where you were watching the Super Bowl, you might have seen an Obama ad during the big game. While no campaign splurged for national ad buy, which would have cost a hefty $3 million, Obama spent an estimated $250,000 to purchase local ad time in select markets.
Meanwhile Clinton is doing some targeted messaging tonight. Her campaign has paid for a full hour of time on the Hallmark Channel to broadcast her national town hall meeting tonight. The campaign will host events in 22 cities to participate in the 90-minute session in which Clinton will take questions from voters. It will also stream live on her campaign Web site.
Another Kennedy Lines Up Behind Obama: Her husband, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is supporting McCain but Maria Shriver is joining her Kennedy cousins to support Obama. "If Barack Obama was a state, he'd be California," Shriver said at a rally for Obama in California yesterday. "Diverse. Open. Smart. Independent. Bucks tradition. Innovative. Inspirational. Dreamer. Leader," she added.
Around The Track
Mike Huckabee says he's staying in the race until the end. "I'll stay in until someone has 1,191 delegates," he told the AP.McCain is sounding more and more confident of wrapping up the nomination he's long sought. "The first thing we've got to do after Tuesday is unite this party," he has taken to telling audiences on the stump.Some of that uniting may be difficult. Former Senator Rick Santorum is appearing in phone calls being made in which he raises the issue of McCain's temper. "This is not something he hasn't spoken about and talked about and admitted to and I think that to me it is a relevant issue for people to consider," Santorum told the Boston Globe. "I think it's one without question that factors into his ability to govern, to form coalitions and to get things done."Romney is going to leave everything on the field as he blitzes the Super Tuesday states in the final hours. Before settling in Tuesday evening in Massachusetts to await the results, Romney will stop in Tennessee, Georgia, California and Oklahoma City.