Ill. Dems move to Obama, away from Hull

CHICAGO, March 5 (UPI) -- A new poll indicates Democrat Barack Obama is gaining ground in his bid to capture the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Peter Fitzgerald.

In a survey of 1,500 likely voters, Obama, a state legislator, received 28 percent compared with 23 percent for businessman Blair Hull, who has been mired in a controversy over whether he abused his ex-wife. In third place was Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes with 22 percent, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday.

Two weeks ago, before divorce documents in which Hull's ex-wife accused him of abuse were opened, Hull was leading Obama 27 percent to 17 percent.

More than one out of 10 Democratic voters remained unsure Wednesday, when the survey was taken, how they would vote in the March 16 primary.

On the Republican side, Wilmette banker Jack Ryan had 44 percent, followed by Aurora dairy magnate Jim Oberweis at 18 percent and Glenview businessman Andy McKenna at 10 percent.

That was largely unchanged from two weeks ago.