Poll puts Clinton ahead of McCain

Last update: April 28, 2008 - 8:50 PM

Hillary Rodham Clinton led John McCain by 9 points in a head-to-head presidential matchup, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll, bolstering her argument that she is more electable than Democratic rival Barack Obama.

Obama and Republican McCain were running about even.

The survey, released Monday, gives Clinton a fresh talking point as she works to raise campaign cash and persuade pivotal undecided superdelegates to side with her in the drawn-out Democratic primary fight.

Helped by independents, young people and senior citizens, Clinton gained ground this month in a hypothetical match with McCain, the GOP nominee-in-waiting. In the poll, she led McCain 50 percent to 41 percent, while Obama remained virtually tied with McCain, 46 percent to 44 percent. The poll had a margin of error of 3.1 percent.

Both Democrats were roughly even with McCain in the previous poll about three weeks ago.

WRAP IT UP BY JUNE, SAYS DEAN

Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean said Monday that one of the two candidates must drop out of the race after the primary season wraps up in June so Democrats can unite before the late-summer convention and the fall campaign.

He also urged undecided superdelegates to side with either Clinton or Obama before the August convention so the party can come together to take on McCain.

ASSOCIATED PRESS