Gallup 5/27: Obama widens lead over Clinton to 8%, but does 6% worse than HRC against McCain in GE

After a string of five days with a double-digit lead over Clinton last week, Obama has held slightly smaller advantages over Clinton -- ranging from five to eight points -- in the last four releases based on Gallup Poll Daily tracking. Since May 1-3 polling, Obama has held at least a small advantage over Clinton, and has held a statistically significant lead most of this month. (To view the complete trend since Jan. 3, 2008, click here.)

Though Obama's nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate seems highly likely, Clinton actually is running better versus presumptive Republican nominee John McCain in general election trial heats among registered voters nationwide.

The latest update, based on May 21-25 Gallup Poll Daily tracking, shows Clinton with a 3-point advantage (48% to 45%) over McCain, while Obama trails McCain by the same 3-point margin (47% to 44%).

That net difference of six points in the gap (+3 for Clinton and -3 for Obama) is typical of what Gallup has observed in the last four releases, and rank among the largest net differences in either Democratic candidate's favor since Gallup began tracking general election preferences in mid-March.