Clinton, McCain lead in N.Y. and N.J.

NEW YORK, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Hillary Clinton" class="tpstyle">Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain are their parties' preferred presidential nominees in New York and New Jersey, a new poll indicates.

With the states' primaries Tuesday, Clinton, the junior senator from New York, leads Barack Obama, the junior senator from Illinois, 53 percent to 39 percent among likely Democratic voters, a Quinnipiac University poll indicates.

In New Jersey, Clinton leads Obama 48 percent to 43 percent.

"Sen. Obama has put together a coalition of blacks and independents to dramatically narrow the gap in just the last few days in New Jersey, but the big question remains: Will there be enough of these new, young, first-time voters showing up to pull a surprise on Super Tuesday?" said Clay Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Among Republicans, Arizona Sen. John McCain leads former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the Empire State 54 percent to 22 percent. The margin was 30 percent to 9 percent in a Jan. 22 poll.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee trails with 9 percent, the poll revealed.

In New Jersey, McCain leads Romney 52 percent to 30 percent, with Huckabee and Texas Rep. Ron Paul both at 6 percent.