Poll: Obama gains ground in Ohio

AKRON, Ohio, March 3 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has a narrow lead over rival Barack Obama going into Tuesday's primary in Ohio, a poll indicated.

A new Quinnipiac University poll found that the double-digit lead the New York senator had over Obama has narrowed to four points -- 49 percent to 45 percent -- the Akron (Ohio) Beacon-Journal reported Monday.

The newspaper said Clinton's 11-point lead over Obama narrowed amid a flood of campaign advertising and a string of public appearances by the Illinois senator.

The poll found that Clinton still has wide support among white women, older voters and blue collar workers. Obama, meanwhile, is largely backed by African-Americans, younger voters and college-educated men, the newspaper reported.

Texas, Vermont and Rhode Island also hold presidential nominating contests Tuesday.

The poll of 799 likely Ohio Democratic voters was conducted between Feb. 27 and March 2. It has a margin of error of 3.5 percent.