PRINCETON, NJ -- Barack Obama leads Hillary Clinton by seven percentage points, 49% to 42% in the Gallup Poll Daily tracking three-day average for Feb. 15-17.
The daily tracking at this point is a measure of the sentiments of all Democrats nationally, whether they have had the opportunity to vote in their state's primary or caucus. Obama's seven-point lead in the Feb. 15-17 results suggests that Democrats today, by a slim margin, prefer that he be their party's standard-bearer to Clinton. The next major event that could have an impact on the opinions of Democrats nationally is the Wisconsin primary on Tuesday, Feb. 19.
National Republican preferences for John McCain and Mike Huckabee remain fairly constant, with McCain leading in the Feb. 15-17 three-day average by 28 points, 54% to 26%.
Huckabee did slightly less well in interviewing on Feb. 17, but it is too soon to know if this represents a significant trend. One key focus on the GOP side is the degree to which Huckabee supporters will stand by their man, given the recognition that McCain essentially has the Republican nomination sewn up. On Monday, former president George H.W. Bush endorsed McCain. -- Frank Newport
