How much did debate damage Clinton?

Three new polls appear divided on whether last week's Democratic debate will substantially hurt front-runner Hillary Clinton, or will end up being merely a small stumble.

The Rasmussen Reports tracking poll released today showed Clinton leading Barack Obama by 41 percent to 22 percent among Democrats, her lead down slightly from 49 percent to 22 percent two weeks earlier.

The survey was conducted Nov. 1-4, just after the Oct. 30 debate in Philadelphia, where Clinton's rivals focused their fire her way and her sometimes evasive responses led to her worst reviews of any debate.

Still, separate survey findings show that 39 percent of voters believe it is very likely that she will be in the nominee, compared to only 11 percent for Obama, Rasmussen said.

But a CNN poll released today showed the gap narrowing markedly between Clinton and Obama. She led 44 percent to 25 percent in the poll conducted Nov. 2-4, compared to 51 percent to 21 percent last month.

And a Washington Post-ABC News survey released Sunday put Clinton's edge over Obama at 49 percent to 26 percent, a drop of 10 percentage points from her 53 percent to 20 percent lead in late September. That poll was conducted Oct. 29-Nov. 1, a time period straddling the debate.

Still, the poll shows Clinton's support among liberal Democrats growing as the nomination battle intensifies, the Post says.