Gallup: Debate a boost for Clinton

PRINCETON, N.J., April 19 (UPI) -- Hillary Clinton led Barack Obama among U.S. Democrats in a Gallup daily tracking poll released Saturday, the first time in a month she has beaten her rival.

The poll was based on interviews Wednesday through Friday. The Gallup Organization said support for Clinton was significantly higher Thursday and Friday, after the Wednesday night debate in Philadelphia.

Gallup found that 46 percent of Democrats said they preferred Clinton while 45 percent preferred Obama. The rival senators have been consistently in a near tie, but Obama had been in the lead since the March 18-20 poll.

Both Democrats led in a match-up against Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who has the Republican nomination locked up.

Among registered voters nationally, Obama had 45 percent of respondents to 44 percent for McCain, while Clinton was ahead of McCain 46 percent to 44 percent.