Clinton faces grim poll data as debate looms

Source: China Daily | 04-17-2008 13:51

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania - Hillary Clinton faced a high-stakes debate with Democratic foe Barack Obama Wednesday, as daunting poll numbers lengthened her odds on a comeback in the White House race.

Democratic presidential hopeful New York Senator Hillary Clinton (R) greets union supporters following her speech at the Building Trades National Legislative Conference  at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington, DC. Clinton Wednesday faced lengthening odds for her White House bid as polls showed her personal ratings diving and her  prospects clouding over in several key primaries.  [Agencies]

Clinton was under intense pressure to change the complexion of the contest in the one-one-one clash with Obama in Pennsylvania, which holds the next nominating contest in the roller-coaster Democratic race next Tuesday.

The New York senator has been attacking Obama for days over his comment that some small-town Americans were "bitter," but latest opinion surveys suggested her rival had escaped serious immediate damage.

Obama has also spent the last six weeks since the Ohio and Texas primaries battling the fallout from incendiary comments by his former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

Polls show Clinton has stalled Obama's attempt to catch her in Pennsylvania, but her lead of around six points did not suggest the kind of blowout win she needs to sow doubts about Obama's viability in the minds of top party leaders.

Clinton has been written off before and pulled off surprising comebacks, but her White House hopes are on thin ice because she trails Obama in nominating contests won, elected delegates and the popular vote.

Her only chance now is to convince nearly 800 Democratic grandees called superdelegates that Obama cannot win November's general election against Republican John McCain.

There was more grim news for Clinton in a Washington Post/ABC News poll which gave Obama a 10-point lead when Democrats nationwide were asked who they would like to see go up against McCain.

Obama was up two-to-one among Democrats asked who was most electable in a general election, undermining Clinton's quest for the hearts of the superdelegates.