Barack Obama has surged to a statistical tie with Hillary Rodham Clinton in a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, erasing a double-digit national lead she held just two weeks ago and turning the Democratic nomination race into a nail-biter.
The pair stood at Clinton 45%, Obama 44% in a snapshot of voter intent just two days before 22 states hold primaries and caucuses on Super Tuesday.
On the Republican side, Arizona Sen. John McCain gained 11 percentage points for a decisive 42%-24% lead over former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
McCain, who has drawn strength in past contests from independents and moderates, beat Romney 41%-26% among Republicans or independents leaning Republican in the poll and 38%-28% among conservatives.
It is telling to listen to young people who are so energized by this candidate and campaign.
For Democratic veterans like me, this is telling:
Forty one percent of registered voters told the latest Pew Research Center survey that they disliked the idea of Bill Clinton back at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, which could happen if his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, is elected president