Clinton Leads Obama in Ohio, Even in Texas, Poll Says

Nadine Elsibai

March 2 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are in a close battle for support among likely Texas primary voters, while Clinton leads Obama in Ohio, an American Research Group Inc. poll shows.

Clinton, a New York senator, and Obama, an Illinois senator, are tied with 47 percent support each among Texas voters, the poll conducted Feb. 29-March 1 found. A similar poll taken Feb. 27-28 had Obama leading 51-44 percent.

In Ohio, Clinton is ahead 51-44 percent among the state's likely Democratic primary voters. That's little changed from the 50-45 percent advantage she had in an earlier February poll. Four percent of voters in both Texas and Ohio remain undecided, the new poll found.

Democratic primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont are scheduled for March 4. Clinton is counting on wins in Texas and Ohio to boost her standing after 11 straight losses to Obama.

The poll showed Clinton leading Obama 52 percent to 40 percent in Rhode Island, while trailing him 34 percent to 60 percent in Vermont.

A separate Reuters/C-SPAN/Houston Chronicle tracking poll showed 47 percent of Texas Democrats backed Obama compared with 43 percent for Clinton. The poll was conducted Feb. 28-March 1. A similar Texas tracking poll Feb. 26-28 had Obama leading 48-42 percent.

In Ohio, Clinton received 47 percent support compared with Obama's 46 percent. A similar poll Feb. 26-28 showed Clinton with 44 percent compared with Obama's 42 percent, the tracking poll found.

The Democratic telephone surveys included 746 likely primary voters in Ohio and 736 likely voters in Texas. Both surveys have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.

The American Research Group polls included 600 likely Democratic primary voters in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont. Each survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.