McCain, Clinton lead U.S. national poll

Senators John McCain and Hillary Clinton have emerged as nationwide leaders in their respective parties, AFP reports. The results comes despite early setbacks in the primary election campaign, according to two new opinion polls. McCain, Clinton lead U.S. national poll A survey conducted jointly by CBS News and The New York Times indicated that following his primary election win last week in New Hampshire, McCain now leads the national Republican race over former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee 33 percent to 18 percent. McCain is now seen as the most electable in November and leads among conservatives as well as moderates with 41 percent of the vote, up from seven percent in December, according to that poll. Meanwhile, support for former Republican national front-runner Rudy Giuliani, an ex-New York mayor, has fallen by more than half in this survey -- to 12 percent, down from 43 percent last month. But there are many indications this race is far from settled, with 72 percent of the respondents saying they could still change their minds and fewer than half, or 43 percent, "strongly" supporting their candidates. On the Democratic side, Senator Clinton leads her fellow Senator Barack Obama by a double digit margin, 42 percent to 27 percent, according to the CBS News/New York Times poll. John Edwards is in a distant third place with 11 percent. But a survey conducted by ABC News and The Washington Post indicated the margin to Clinton's lead was much smaller. According to that poll, 42 percent of likely Democratic voters support Clinton and 37 percent back Obama. Clinton's support was down 11 percentage points from a month ago, with Obama's up 14 points. But neither of the two leading Democrats enjoys firm support: 39 percent of Clinton voters say their minds could change, as do 43 percent of Obama's, the CBS News/New York Times survey found. Both top Democrats in the race are viewed as agents of change in Washington, but Clinton continues to have an advantage over Obama on perceptions of preparedness for the job of president. Seventy-nine percent of Democratic voters say the former first lady is ready to be president while only 40 percent say that of Obama. Both McCain and Clinton lost the Iowa caucuses to their main rivals on January 3 but made a comeback in New Hampshire on January 7. Both polls were conducted January 9-12 and had a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points. Most electable Republican: Senator John McCain (Beta/AP)

McCain, Clinton lead U.S. national poll

A survey conducted jointly by CBS News and The New York Times indicated that following his primary election win last week in New Hampshire, McCain now leads the national Republican race over former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee 33 percent to 18 percent.

McCain is now seen as the most electable in November and leads among conservatives as well as moderates with 41 percent of the vote, up from seven percent in December, according to that poll.

Meanwhile, support for former Republican national front-runner Rudy Giuliani, an ex-New York mayor, has fallen by more than half in this survey -- to 12 percent, down from 43 percent last month.

But there are many indications this race is far from settled, with 72 percent of the respondents saying they could still change their minds and fewer than half, or 43 percent, "strongly" supporting their candidates.

On the Democratic side, Senator Clinton leads her fellow Senator Barack Obama by a double digit margin, 42 percent to 27 percent, according to the CBS News/New York Times poll. John Edwards is in a distant third place with 11 percent.

But a survey conducted by ABC News and The Washington Post indicated the margin to Clinton's lead was much smaller.

According to that poll, 42 percent of likely Democratic voters support Clinton and 37 percent back Obama. Clinton's support was down 11 percentage points from a month ago, with Obama's up 14 points.

But neither of the two leading Democrats enjoys firm support: 39 percent of Clinton voters say their minds could change, as do 43 percent of Obama's, the CBS News/New York Times survey found.

Both top Democrats in the race are viewed as agents of change in Washington, but Clinton continues to have an advantage over Obama on perceptions of preparedness for the job of president.

Seventy-nine percent of Democratic voters say the former first lady is ready to be president while only 40 percent say that of Obama.

Both McCain and Clinton lost the Iowa caucuses to their main rivals on January 3 but made a comeback in New Hampshire on January 7.

Both polls were conducted January 9-12 and had a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.