Public Policy Polling has recently conducted surveys in both Florida and Ohio which find that neither Hillary Clinton nor Barack Obama is currently able to unite most Democrats in trial heats against John McCain:
This points up the serious straits Democrats find themselves in right now. There’s no reason to think the Obama-Clinton fight will end before the convention. Indeed, the Democrats may be headed for a very troublesome outome: Barack Obama is almost certain to retain an edge in pledged delegates, but the pounding he has taken in recent weeks is leading many to question whether he really is a better candidate against McCain than Hillary. The superdelegates may ultimately conclude that the party’s best candidate against McCain is Hillary. But do they dare hand the nomination to Hillary, despite her deficit among the pledged delegates? It’s hard to see that happening. But then again, if Obama can’t get his mojo back, it’s also hard to see them ratifying his nomination. No matter what happens, it looks like the nominating fight will leave the Democrats in hot water in Denver. If Howard Dean can square this circle, he will have earned his pay.
