Poll: Clinton leads Obama by 7 in Pennsylvania

Hillary Clinton leads Barack Obama 51%-44% among likely Pennsylvania Democratic primary voters, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early this morning. Clinton was at 50%-44% last week.

Clinton leads 57%-38% among white voters, and Obama has an 84%-10-% lead among black voters. Women back Clinton 57%-38%, men are for Obama, 53%-43%. White Catholics are overwhelmingly for Clinton, 66%-29%. Voters under age 45 go with Obama, 57%-41%, while older voters go to Clinton by a 54%-40% margin.

"Pennsylvania voters apparently made up their minds a couple of weeks ago and nothing has happened since to change them. An extraordinary turnout effort by Sen. Barack Obama's campaign could snatch this victory from Sen. Hillary Clinton, but that does not appear likely," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Sen. Obama got off message after his 'bitter' remarks and never regained his momentum, giving Sen. Clinton the opening to fight another day in Indiana and North Carolina. She wins in Western Pennsylvania; he wins in the East. She gets Catholics, white women and blue-collar labor vote. He captures men, blacks and college grads – and enough delegates to keep his edge in the number that counts most."