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Indiana looks like a toss-up

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor April 25, 2008 09:45 AM

The next big Democratic battle in Indiana is up for grabs, two new polls say.

A survey released today by the Indianapolis Star and WTHR-TV gives Barack Obama a 41 percent to 38 percent edge over Hillary Clinton.

But less than two weeks out from the May 6 primary, 21 percent of likely voters said they were undecided, and that lead was well within the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

The survey, conducted Sunday through Wednesday, gave Obama bigger leads looking ahead to the November election. By 49 percent to 35 percent, voters said that the Illinois senator would be the better nominee for the fall. And while he led presumptive Republican nominee John McCain 49 percent to 41 percent in a hypothetical matchup, Clinton and McCain were tied at 46 percent.

Another survey, done for the South Bend Tribune and several TV stations, gives Barack Obama a 48 percent to 47 percent lead -- a statistical tie. That poll, Wednesday and Thursday, has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Both Clinton and Obama are campaigning today in Indiana. The New York senator has events scheduled in Bloomington, Gary, and East Chicago, while Obama has one in Kokomo.

41 comments so far...
  1. Senator Obama is the best candidate, at least his campaign is being financed by average Americans instead of the rich and the special interest.

    http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/donordems.asp?filter=A&sortby=S

    http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/donordems.asp?filter=A&sortby=X

    http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/donordems.asp?filter=A&sortby=P

    Wake up America.

    Posted by Deward Bowles April 25, 08 10:02 AM
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  1. Obama named his book after one of Wright's sermons.

    Wake up, America.

    Posted by nonya April 25, 08 11:39 AM
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  1. I contribute to Hillary Clinton's campaign and will continue to do so and believe me, me I am not rich.

    Posted by Pat Singer April 25, 08 11:44 AM
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  1. Go Hillary, GO!!! Hillary Clinton is by far the best candidate to get our nation back on track. I cannot believe people are even thinking about Obama seriously after all we've learned about him over the past couple of months. He's too green, untested, and still has too many skeletons comng out of the closet that haven't been examined yet. He certainly doesn't know how to choose the right friends or establish the right relationships, which reflects extremely poor decision making on his part in my opinion. I'm ready for Hillary to get us back on track. If the democratic party doesn't give her the "yes" nod, I won't give them my vote. End of discussion. Go Hillary, GO!!!

    Posted by A. Jean April 25, 08 11:51 AM
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  1. CLINTON LIED ABOUT HER SUPPORT OF NAFTA!

    SHE IS A FLIP FLOPPER!

    Posted by CLINTEN April 25, 08 11:52 AM
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  1. Deward, your the one who needs the coffee to wake up. When hamas supports a canidate, Or someone who hangs out and takes money from the weather underground. Oh ya really want to vote for that guy, get real.

    Posted by bill April 25, 08 11:55 AM
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  1. CNN the Clinton News Network just can't hold back praising Hillary. They have even adopted her flair for exaggerating. She did not win Pennsylvania by ten points.... it was 9.4 points, it may not be much of a difference to you, but ask Al Gore. Even with such a big win... she got 10 million, Obama got 3 new superdelegates....you know the ones her and Bill have been pestering for sometime to back her. If Barack blows her out with a 20 point win in North Carolina, CNN will report that it was the black vote that went for Obama. I looked in the mirror this morning after I voted for Obama and I saw a white face. The Clinton camp is working overtime to perpetuate the notion that Governor Rendell put forth... "there are some people in Pennsylvania that will not vote for a black man" this puts Obama in a though spot because he is part black and part white. Listen to Clinton's past speeches. She panders to voters of every state with what they want to hear. She is a vision of olden day monarchies that used to travel down the street and throw money to the poor people.

    Posted by Ron April 25, 08 11:58 AM
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  1. "...he led presumptive Republican nominee John McCain 49 percent to 41 percent in a hypothetical matchup, Clinton and McCain were tied at 46 percent." which means that Obama is a better choice against McCain.

    Posted by Javalation April 25, 08 12:09 PM
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  1. It is fair for Senator Obama if you take into consideration that he is being politicaly lynched by three politicians

    If Senator Clinton were the nominee, she will have poor chances against Condoleza Rice as VP she is very articulate and will come with good arguments about the wars.

    Senator Mc Cain stage II melanoma has 50% survival rate at 5 years, he was diagnosed in year 2000 and already had a recurrence, so probably he has stage III melanoma what makes the prognosis even worst, puting him as a bomb time.

    Posted by Alma Ludivina April 25, 08 12:14 PM
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  1. I believe that Hillary Clinton has so much subtle experience having been a First Lady. This experience needs to be given so much more weight than it has had, because she is copletely familiar with every aspect of what the President will have to be doing and also the knowledge of how to proceed most effectively. I also believe that she will be able to select around herself a very knowledgeable staff to keep her Presidential duties effectively made without any learning curve. Maybe Obama gives more enthusiastic speaches but he is not giving many specific policies so we would be in a position to maybe not being so happy with the actual outcome.
    Senator Clinton is the person for us at this most difficult juncture where the whole earth is being destroyed. We need an effective forward looking President who can deliver on her promises. It is sad to me that there are so many men out there that would not put their trust in an extremely effective person, because of gender. Throughout the world there have been a number of extremely well regarded women leaders.

    Posted by borjana awqatty April 25, 08 12:17 PM
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  1. I wonder what the numbers will be like once Hill starts to go negative. Anything to make sure Obama does not win in November.

    Posted by Dave April 25, 08 12:19 PM
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  1. Hillary is CLEARLY the best candidate to lead our great nation forward. She has the Focus, the Tenacity & Know How, how to get things done not only for our country but for average everday working folks!!! Vote Hillary!!!!

    Posted by Coco April 25, 08 12:22 PM
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  1. One word.......Oprah

    Posted by matt kaufman April 25, 08 12:22 PM
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  1. Please let us all remember that the objective is to FINALLY get someone in the White House that will work to better this country and not just their position in politics. With that being said.....you must vote OBAMA!!!!

    Posted by Mary Bartula April 25, 08 12:23 PM
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  1. At least Hillary Clinton doesn't call towns people bitter.

    At least Hillary Clinton doesn't call all white people racist.

    At least Hillary Clinton wasn't sitting in a church where the pastor was giving anti american sermons

    Posted by Carlos April 25, 08 12:26 PM
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  1. Data mining proves nothing. A politician is a politician no matter how you turn it.

    http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/donordems.asp?filter=A&sortby=2
    http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/donordems.asp?filter=A&sortby=N
    http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.asp?id=N00009638&cycle=2008
    http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/sector.asp?id=N00009638&cycle=2008

    Posted by Liz Stein April 25, 08 12:27 PM
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  1. At least Hillary Clinton doesn't call towns people bitter.

    At least Hillary Clinton doesn't call all white people racist.

    At least Hillary Clinton wasn't sitting in a church where the pastor was giving anti american sermons

    Posted by Carlos April 25, 08 12:42 PM
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  1. Hillary is the next closest thing to GW Bush, after McCain. That is reason enough to not vote for her. Other reasons are her indebtedness to big pharma, and other lobbyists that will put the needs of Americans on the backburner for the sake of mutli-national corporate profits. Hillary is more of the same. America needs to break this political mold that is run by the very deep pockets of powerful lobbyists. The only way to do that is to vote for Obama.

    Posted by Gavin April 25, 08 12:51 PM
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  1. COUNTDOWN TO VICTORY

    292 DELEGATE OBAMA
    436 CLINTON

    706 LEFT 300 SUPERS

    GO OBAMA

    Posted by DELEGATE MATH April 25, 08 12:56 PM
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  1. Hillary is going to lose because she has run such a poorly managed campaign and as proven that she'll say anything (and mostly lie) to pander and get votes - - - how pathetic.

    Obama represents a fresh start for this country and is clearly the best choice for president.

    Bye-bye to the Clinton's and their weasel set...
    Hillary
    Bill
    Carville
    Begala

    GO OBAMA!

    Posted by James Surprenant April 25, 08 12:58 PM
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  1. Please report on the Peter Paul case against the Clinton taking place in LA.CA .Media do your job!

    Posted by DM.CA. April 25, 08 01:03 PM
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  1. Geez, I am a student and support Borack financially too. I am not rich. Clinton is a LIAR. Bosnia, not a damn misspoke A LIE. Get it America.

    Posted by chris April 25, 08 01:13 PM
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  1. Go Hillary Go! Obama Oshama....

    Posted by Pam Miami April 25, 08 01:14 PM
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  1. Clinton, both of them, lie. If I were ever under sniper fire I would remember it. And if I didn't I would assume that I had not been under sniper fire, regardles of how tired I was. She just laughed it off. Would we let a family member just laugh it off and get away wtih it?

    McCain and Clinton are the same old Washington politics. Both flip flop but I had not seen McCain caught in an outright lie. If the democratice party is misguided enough to nominee Clinton, I will vote for McCain as the lesser of two evils. I can deal with policies that I don't agree with much more easily than dealing with a liar.

    Posted by Rex April 25, 08 01:17 PM
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  1. Another poll saying Obama is leading? Please go te Real Clear Politics where you can find polls that Clinton is leading. And she will win! This media slant for Obama needs to stop. Americans, and Indianans are Americans, are not going to vote for a candidate that listens to racist commnts and Anti-American rhetoric for 20 YEARS. Then he asks Americans to vote for him to be the American President.
    Yes, we have our problems, but this is still the best place in the world to be. It is sad that Obama, his Minister, his own wife's comments and Obama's own San Franscico comments don't get this! But each one of them is living a great life because they live in America! Obama should drop out of this race. He has hurt the Democrat Party in a way that may never heal. He forgot that Democrats are Americans first. He has NO chance in a General election.

    Posted by Core Democrat April 25, 08 01:21 PM
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  1. Can anyone tell me what Obama has said that is meaningful except change Washington???
    Hillary is experienced and has spoken about the 'steps' she is going to take to improve this country.
    Hillary has skeletons in the closet, but at least we know what they are!
    Obama's skeletons keep popping up all over the place. I don't trust him.

    Posted by B April 25, 08 01:21 PM
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  1. i'd rather take a leap of faith than leap of fear & lies.

    Posted by notohil April 25, 08 01:22 PM
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  1. Both Candidates have strengths and weaknesses.

    However, we need to end this soon and unite the party so that the Dems have a shot in November. This campaign is getting very nasty and counterproductive to what both candidates supposedly stand for.

    Posted by Adam S. April 25, 08 01:24 PM
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  1. why does hillary want to compete in small state indiana which borders illinois..

    Posted by francis April 25, 08 01:32 PM
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  1. "I contribute to Hillary Clinton's campaign and will continue to do so and believe me, me I am not rich."

    Maybe not rich but definitely foolish.....

    Posted by RT April 25, 08 02:18 PM
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  1. Hillary is inept. She can't lead. She alienates.

    Evidence? The main, best chance for health care reform turned into a chaotic mess in the 90s because of her inability to lead (which involves listening, negotiating, appriciating nuance, making things work).

    More evidence? Her campaign this year. A clear march to the nomination has turned into a nasty rear-guard assault of sniping. (She must have picked up some tricks in Bosnia.)

    Like mutts chasing cars, she and her creepy husband don't know what to do with power once they get it. What did he do once elected president? Got a little action in the side office and made phone sex calls at 3 am to an intern the age of his daughter .

    America needs a leader, not the return of the bumptious Arkansas version of the MacBeths.

    Posted by Berkshire Pumpkin April 25, 08 02:55 PM
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  1. Percentage wise Obama has 82% of his donors donate $200. Clinton has 73% and McCain 74%. So your comment "his campaign is being financed by average Americans instead of the rich and the special interest" is misleading. All the candidates are supported more by average americans than wealthy americans(using your assumption that the rich don't donate $200, and the average american could in no way donate $2,300 or $4,600).

    This differences in percentages equates to roughly 4500 donors for McCain and 11369 donors for Clinton.

    So we should vote for Obama because 0.00006% of America gave him $200, instead of giving it to Hillary or McCain?

    Posted by Michael B April 25, 08 02:58 PM
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  1. Obama is also a lier. He lie about his Father being helped by the Kennedys, and lie about being a professor when he is just an Instructor.

    Posted by Danny Barbu April 25, 08 03:31 PM
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  1. Why is everybody talking about Indiana as the next big contest when North Carolina is way bigger and votes on the same day? Its because Obama is going to win it, that's why.

    Posted by DB April 25, 08 03:52 PM
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  1. I'd like to see the government address issues of job insecurity and health care costs. I don't want to be "transformed". Go Hillary!

    Posted by edk April 25, 08 04:57 PM
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  1. North Carolina has significantly more delegates than Indiana; why isn't that viewed as the bigger contest?

    Posted by Ida Keir April 25, 08 05:11 PM
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  1. Look, I'm not a huge fan of any of the candidates running. However, look at world politics. Where are the hot spots now? The Middle East -- Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, etc. These are all nations where women are not given the right to vote and women are forced to play subserviant roles in their culture. The men who govern these countries are sexist because that's what is dictated by their culture. They do not respect women and women are not allowed to serve in their governments. What do you think will happen if a woman becomes president of the US and begins to get involved in foreign affairs and policies? I have nothing against a woman president, but you have to look at the bigger picture. This is not a good time in world history for a woman to become president of the US. It could possibly weaken or even limit our bargaining power on the world stage.

    Posted by realitycheck April 25, 08 05:12 PM
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  1. Shocking it must be for the average white Joe to accept that a black man vastly surpasses him in every dimension.

    It is perfectly OK to have an imbecile alcoholic in the White House, but it is utterly unacceptable to have a President who is a Harvard graduate who just happens to be black.

    Deep dwells the KKK in the American psyche.

    Posted by Domingo Tavella April 27, 08 02:54 AM
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  1. Domingo, Indiana had the most members of the KKK of any state, which is why Clinton says it is so important. Penn was so important because it had a large appalachian community of racists. She spins what is important.
    She lied about Michigan over and over. She uses the Hitler strategy. She repeats a big lie, until people think it is true. Her latest is that Michigan voters are angry at the DEMS, so they have to be counted. In fact, she told New Hampshire voters in person, that Mich should not be counted, and her chief advisors voted in the DNC commission to prevent MICH from counting, but that is so inconvenient, now that she is hopelessly behind on actual delegate count, so they now spin for her that MICH should count, even though they all changed their tune, once she got behind on actual delegates.

    Posted by bruce becker April 29, 08 04:21 PM
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  1. Message: Change we can BELIEVE in!

    Barack Obama is the only candidate for President.

    Hillary is a liar and desperate.

    McCain is too old and will continue the Bush policies.

    VOTE: BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!

    Posted by michelle l. April 30, 08 02:48 PM
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  1. Hillary is nothing but a trickster. She and Bill are political animals. She is a glaring example of greed. Is she really running to be president? I bet you, she is not going to get it. Only people with a weak expression of mind thinks Hillary is experienced. She is in a 10 million dollar debt without having gone to war, to be more precise, her campaign is broke. I don't want to go into any details but, If she was that good of a candidate, she would have crushed Obama a long time in this race. But I tell you what, she is even getting votes because of the CLINTON name. Without which, she would have been oursted a long time ago. Mark you, Obama is the underdog. What a phenomenal job he has done. He is going to win the general election come November. And about Rev. wright, I would say, old dirty politics of association. Obama doesn't have any fault for people to talk about. Now they are using Rev. W. as a yard stick to measure his candidacy. Is he related to this man biologically? No. Why can't Americans point out one inappropraite thing Obama has done in his adult Life? Absolutely there is none. I will never vote for a woman. Please do not entrust the treasury of this country into the hands of a woman. That would mean, SNIPER FIRE. Americans should take advantage of Barack Obama. He will make a once in a life-time president.

    Posted by rosy May 1, 08 08:15 PM
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About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

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