Clinton Ahead In Indiana

A SurveyUSA poll released today shows Sen. Hillary Clinton leading Sen. Barack Obama by nine points in the May 6 Democratic presidential primary race for Indiana. The poll shows Clinton leading Obama by 52%-43%. Clinton holds a lead over Obama in all areas of the state except the greater Indianapolis area. Clinton leads Obama by 21 points among white voters, while he leads among black voters by 58 points. Clinton has a 17-point lead among female voters and just a 2-point lead among male voters. According to the poll, Clinton's support from Republicans boosts her lead slightly. That could become critical if a significant number of Republicans choose to cross over and vote in the Democratic primary.

That same poll shows Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Schellinger with a narrow, 2-point lead over former U.S. Rep. Jill Long Thompson according to a press release from Schellinger's campaign. The poll gives him a 41%-39% advantage. Earlier polls had shown Schellinger trailing Thompson badly. His big fundraising advantage over Thompson has allowed him to go up on the airwaves sooner than Thompson to familiarize voters with him. "As we expected now that Jim’s message is on the air, these results are a stunning turnaround from some previous polling, and they show that Jim's fresh, authentic leadership is resonating with voters," the press release says.