WASHINGTON — Barack Obama has surged to a statistical tie with Hillary Rodham Clinton in a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, erasing a double-digit national lead she held just two weeks ago and turning the Democratic nomination race into a nail-biter.
The pair stood at Clinton 45%, Obama 44% in a snapshot of voter intent just two days before 22 states hold primaries and caucuses on Super Tuesday.
On the Republican side, Arizona Sen. John McCain gained 11 percentage points for a decisive 42%-24% lead over former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
McCain, who has drawn strength in past contests from independents and moderates, beat Romney 41%-26% among Republicans or independents leaning Republican in the poll and 38%-28% among conservatives.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-02-03-candidatesspoll_N.htm