Sen. Barack Obama (D-ILL.) has been broadening his support among Democratic voters, with especially strong support among men, a new poll has found.
He is now viewed by most Democrats as the candidate best able to beat Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the presumptive Republican presidential nominee in the general election on Nov. 4, according to the New York Times/CBS News Poll released Tuesday.
The poll found that after 40 Democratic primary elections, Obama has made substantial gains across most major demographic groups in the Democratic Party, including men and women, liberals and moderates, higher and lower income voters, and those with and without college degrees.
For the first time in a New York Times/CBS poll, he moved ahead of rival Sen. Hillary Clinton (D- NY) nationally, with 54 percent of Democratic primary voters saying they wanted to see him nominated, while 38 percent preferred Clinton.
A USA Today/Gallup Poll released Monday showed a similar result, 51 percent for Obama to 39 percent for Clinton.
The poll shows that Obama's coalition -- originally derided by critics as confined to upper-income reformers, young people and blacks -- has broadened significantly.
In December, for example, he had the support of 26 percent of the male Democratic primary voters; in the latest poll, that had climbed to 67 percent.
But there are signs of vulnerability for Obama, too.
While he has a strong edge among Democratic voters for his ability to unite and inspire the country, Clinton is still viewed by more Democrats as being prepared for the job of president.
And while he has made progress among women, he still faces a striking gender gap.
Obama is backed by two-thirds of the Democratic men and 45 percent of the women, who are equally divided in their support between the two candidates.
White women remain a Clinton stronghold.
When all voters are asked to look ahead to the general election, McCain is more likely to be seen as prepared for the presidency, able to handle an international crisis and equipped to serve as commander in chief than either of the Democratic candidates.
Source: Xinhua
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