Okay, up til now, I have discounted national polls on the presidential race. The specific state polls were what mattered. And, the nomination will be decided based on state outcomes so I still prefer state polls. However, on the eve of the voting in almost half the states this coming Tuesday, national polls can give a sense of where the candidates stand. Tonight, we get the results of the latest The Washington Post/ABC News poll conducted from January 30 through February 1 (Wed. thru Fri):
Two days before voters in 24 states go to their polling places, 47 percent of likely Democratic voters said they back Clinton and 43 percent said they support Obama, with neither candidate decisively benefiting from the departure of former senator John Edwards (N.C.) from the race. By contrast, McCain's wins in primaries in South Carolina and Florida and the winnowing of the Republican field have had a dramatic result: The senator from Arizona is now the clear front-runner for his party's nomination.
McCain leads former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney 48 percent to 24 percent among probable GOP voters as he continues to rapidly consolidate support, particularly among moderates and liberals. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee runs third in the new poll with 16 percent, and Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.) is fourth at 7 percent.
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