Votes are realizing what the Clinton campaign won't admit: Obama will be the party's nominee and will face John McCain in November. While Clinton is still arguing the numbers, the voters and superdeleages are looking to November and the task of taking on the Bush policies being parroted by McCain.
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Gallup Daily: Obama Opens Up 16-Point Lead, Biggest YetLead is now 55% to 39% over ClintonUSA Democrats Election 2008 Gallup Daily Americas Northern America PRINCETON, NJ -- Gallup Poll Daily tracking finds Barack Obama with his largest advantage over Hillary Clinton in Democratic voters' nomination preferences thus far, 55% to 39%.
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Obama's previous largest lead was 11 percentage points, in May 15-17 and April 12-14 polling. His widening lead over Clinton has been evident in each of the last three days of tracking, after the two had been more closely matched earlier in the month.
Clinton's largest lead in the Gallup Poll Daily tracking was 20 points in mid-January, when she led Obama 48% to 28% (John Edwards was still in the race at that time). (To view the complete trend since Jan. 3, 2008, click here.)
Tuesday, voters in Kentucky and Oregon will register their preferences for the Democratic nomination. Clinton is expected to win Kentucky and Obama Oregon. There is some speculation that Obama may declare victory given that he is expected to clinch a majority of the delegates available in the state primaries and caucuses (outside of the contested Florida and Michigan primaries). Clinton has vowed to stay in the race until all the primaries and caucuses have been held in early June.
Despite her growing deficit to Obama in the Democratic race, Clinton continues to poll slightly better than Obama in matchups for the general presidential election vs. John McCain. The latest tracking results, based on May 14-18 polling, shows Clinton with a 48% to 44% lead over McCain among registered voters nationwide, while Obama has just a 1-point edge (46% to 45%) over the likely Republican nominee. -- Jeff Jones