Poll: Locked Democratic field, McCain up

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- A new Washington Post-ABC News poll has a tight race for the Democrats with a front-runner emerging in the GOP field ahead of the Michigan primary.

The poll indicates Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is leading the GOP field and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., wiping out Sen. Hillary Clinton's, D.-N.Y., double digit lead, the Washington Post said Monday.

The poll indicated 42 percent of likely Democratic voters backing Clinton while voters supported Obama by 37 percent -- a dead heat with the poll's 3 percentage point margin of error.

Sixty-eight percent of Clinton supporters say they are "strongly" behind her candidacy, with Obama tightening his base with 56 percent expressing similar sentiment.

Obama gained ground regarding perceptions of his leadership and electability, all but erasing Clinton's advantage in that category.

McCain's momentum from the New Hampshire primary win carried him to the top of the field, but the GOP field remains diluted with rivals former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney close behind.

Tuesday's primary in Michigan could place McCain as the presumptive nominee if he beats out Michigan-native Romney, but the evangelical demographic in Michigan and South Carolina, which holds its GOP primary Saturday, could put Huckabee in a solid position.

The poll sampled 1,130 adults from Jan. 9-12.