New Poll: Obama leads Clinton nationally

By The Associated Press

THE RACE: The presidential race for Democrats nationally

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THE NUMBERS

Barack Obama, 49 percent

Hillary Rodham Clinton, 39 percent

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OF INTEREST:

The two rivals' standings in the Pew Research Center poll have changed little from late February, the latest indication that so far Obama has weathered the controversy over provocative sermons by his longtime pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. While Obama has a mostly favorable image among white Democrats, those with unfavorable views about him are likelier to say equal rights for minorities have gone too far and to oppose interracial dating. Almost one in four white Democrats who view Obama unfavorably also think he is Muslim, when in fact he is Christian. Obama and Clinton both continue to hold slender leads nationally in matchups against the all-but-certain Republican candidate, John McCain.