http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1433Edwards makes gains amid shifting voter preferences
Utica, NY – Illinois Sen. Barack Obama’s lead over New York Sen. Hillary Clinton has shrunk by four points overall and by nine points among black voters, during the last 24 hours of polling, but he retains a sizable edge, the latest Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby survey shows.
The telephone tracking poll taken Jan. 21-23 shows Obama with 39% support from likely Democratic voters, compared to Clinton’s 24% support. The three-day daily tracking survey included 811 likely Democratic primary voters across South Carolina and carries a margin of error of +/-3.4 percentage points. In yesterday's tracking poll, Obama had 43% support to Clinton’s 25%.
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards still trails, but has gained four points and now has support from 19% of likely voters.
Obama still has a healthy lead among African American voters, but lost almost nine points since yesterday, dropping from 65% to 56% support among that group. Edwards, who registered no support from black voters the day before, picked up five points and Clinton added about two points to reach 18% of black support. Nearly one in five - 19% - of black voters said they were not sure for whom they would vote, which was up a point from the day before.
Democrats – South Carolina
1/21-23
1/20-22
Obama
39%
43%
Clinton
24%
25%
Edwards
19%
15%
Kucinich
<1%
<1%
Gravel
<1%
<1%
Someone else
4%
4%
Not sure
13%
14%
Obama, meanwhile, made gains among male voters, attracting 50% support, up from 42% the day before. Clinton held steady at 19% of male support, while Edwards leapt ahead of her, attracting 23% of male support, up from just 15% the day before. Obama continued to outdo Clinton among women, with 36% backing him to Clinton’s 29%.
The Illinois senator also had a slim lead over Clinton among voters over age 65, drawing 30% of their support, compared to Clinton’s 28%. Senior citizens and women have been groups that preferred Clinton in Nevada and New Hampshire. Obama continued to dominate among the youngest voters, getting 42% of their number to Clinton’s 14%. Edwards beat Clinton in this category as well, taking the support of 25%.
Pollster John Zogby: “The Democratic race in South Carolina is reminding me now of the beginning of the old Buffalo Springfield song: “There’s something happening here/What it is ain’t exactly clear.”