As the Democratic slugfest goes on and on, Republican John McCain is emerging as possibly the biggest winner.
A new poll out yesterday was the latest to show the presumptive GOP nominee at least even with Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in hypothetical November matchups.
Five months ago, the Associated Press/Yahoo survey suggested people preferring an unnamed Democrat for president over a generic Republican 40 percent to 27 percent. In the new poll, McCain led Clinton 37 percent to 36 percent and Obama 36 percent to 34 percent.
The Arizona senator has closed the gap with the support of people who voted for President Bush in 2004 but are now unhappy with him, and the backing of independents and moderate Democrats, the survey indicated. It also suggested that McCain's personal qualities are attracting voters.
Another poll, however, offered more hope to Democrats for their White House prospects.
The Gallup Poll looked at the dozen so-called purple states - swing states crucial in November - and reported yesterday that both Obama and Clinton led McCain 47 percent to 43 percent. The dozen states were where the margin of victory in 2004 for President Bush or Senator John F. Kerry was 5 percentage points or less: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Nationwide, the poll indicated that the Democrats were virtually tied with McCain; Obama had a 46 percent to 44 percent edge, while Clinton had a 46 percent to 45 percent edge.
FOON RHEE
Prime minister of Britain meets with all 3 candidates
WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain discussed the Iraq war, the global economy, and his country's relationship with the United States as he met yesterday with all three presidential candidates, one of whom will be his ally come January.
Brown met one-on-one with Barack Obama, then Hillary Clinton, then John McCain in 45-minute intervals spanning three hours at the British ambassador's residence in Washington.
Brown also discussed Afghanistan and China with Clinton, and Africa with Obama. He and McCain talked about the Arizona senator's call for creating a League of Democracies and Brown's proposal for the World Bank to take on an environmental mission.
"I am absolutely confident that having talked to the three candidates that the special relationship between our two countries is strong and secure and valued by all of them," Brown said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Female superdelegates pressed to support Clinton
WASHINGTON - Some female superdelegates backing Barack Obama are having their "sisterhood" questioned, just as some black Democrats have been challenged for their endorsement of Hillary Clinton.
No one has accused Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota of betraying her gender in supporting Obama over Clinton in the race for the party's nomination, but Clinton supporters let her know they're disappointed. The reason some give: If Clinton does not win the White House this year, no woman will reach that goal in their lifetimes.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
