L.A. Times/Bloomberg Poll posts this evening

A new L.A. Times/Bloomberg survey of Democratic voters nationwide underscores Barack Obama's spectacular rise from spirited underdog to commanding figure in the party's presidential race.

We won't reveal the precise numbers here; for that, check for the detailed story on our home page about 4 p.m. PST and in Wednesday's print editions. Suffice to say that among a national sample of those who have voted or plan to cast ballots in Democratic nominating contests, Obama has erased the once-daunting lead held by Hillary Clinton and now appears to enjoy a slight advantage over her.

The results roughly parallel the figures of other national polls conducted in February, most of which have found Obama ahead or locked in a virtual tie with Clinton.

The race could still turn again, with both candidates keying on the March 4 primaries in Texas and Ohio (and squaring off tonight on MSNBC in another debate, starting at 6 p.m. PST). But here's a reminder of the ground Obama has made up:

* Just four months ago, a Times/Bloomberg poll found Obama barely holding onto second place against John Edwards, with both far behind Clinton. Her lead in that mid-October nationwide survey: 31 percentage points.

* In mid-January, after the pair had traded wins in the race's initial skirmishes in Iowa and New Hampshire, Clinton clung to a nine-point lead in a Times/Bloomberg national poll.

The full results... 

from these polls -- as well as similar surveys that tracked the contest in April, June and December -- can be found here.

The new poll also paired Obama and Clinton against the presumed Republican nominee, John McCain. Again, we're constrained from unveiling the exact numbers. But overall, the results should hearten the GOP. And at the least, they portend a general election campaign that could be as rollicking as the preliminaries.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Ricardo Rose]

The USA and world is in dire need of Statesmanship! And quite frankly, Senator Obama has demonstrated that he is a Statesman, fulfilling a non-political vacuum that represents the interest of All. He is leading in the same vein as the following visionaries with extraordinary Statesmanship.

* A great statesman is he who knows when to depart from traditions, as well as when to adhere to them.
- John Stuart Mill

* And statesmen at her council met Who knew the seasons when to take Occasion by the hand, and make The bounds of freedom wider yet.
- Lord Alfred Tennyson,

* Peace. commerce, and honest friendship with all nations–entangling alliances with none.
- Thomas Jefferson, in his first inaugural address

* We say that someone occupies an official position, whereas it is the official position that occupies him.
- Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

* Honest statesmanship is the wise employment of individual manners for the public good. - Abraham Lincoln

- Abraham Lincoln

[Ryan]

I think one success of Barack Obamas campaign that often goes overlooked is his grassroots strategy. Obama has literally been everywhere in this country getting his message out and rallying the voters. What does Hillary Clinton do? Play the politician and only focus on those "critical" states in the nomination process like California, Ohio, Texas, etc. This is smart of course, and its hard to doubt the Clinton pedigree, but people are starting to see through that in my opinion.

What is even more compelling is the difference between their Internet Strategy. http://www.spartaninternet.com this Internet Consulting company did a study looking at Internet support, and Barack Obama has been the clear cut leader for a long time. It's very interesting as he has been well above both Clinton and Edwards since mid summer.

In any case I hope the American voters are paying enough attention to see that Barack is the guy this year. He charisma and energy are something we have needed in the White House for a long time.

[jatcagirl]

could his advisor, zbigniew brzezinski, have anything to do with obama's "spectacular rise from spirited underdog to commanding figure"?

[sean truitt]

i prefer my statesmen to be knowledgable, experienced, and moral.

ron paul.

obama, a constitutional lawyer, is poised to step into what has been twisted into a dictatorship. when he takes the oath of office:"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
will he do it?

[Robert Valiquet]

Tsunami alert renders this poll obsolete before it's publication.
2 major events by men with legendary influence took place
after the polling. National hero R. Nader's entry in the
contest and Luis Farakan's endorsement of Obama wich
is guranteed to sway 100% of the all important muslim
vote.

[theproblemwithcaring]

obama, a constitutional lawyer, is poised to step into what has been twisted into a dictatorship. when he takes the oath of office:"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
will he do it?

Posted by: sean truitt | February

Yes, and actually mean it, unlike President bush, and actuallyunderstand what that means, unlike Senator McCain.

[edwina]

I agree with the blogger named Ryan.

Should Hillary somehow win the Democratic nomination, she would do so by winning approximately fifteen states oppose to Obama's 35, plus the caucuses from the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam.

I could see Hillary in her victory speech - should she win - with a smile from ear to ear "Thank you, America, the people have voted." 35 of the 50 states said NO to Hillary, yet she will have the audacity to quote "The people have voted b.s.".

I'm glad she's seeing her once invincible campaign slowly and painstakingly coming to its inevitable demise. I guess all that hard work to become senator of New York as a springboard to become president back-fired REAL GOOD!