---
title: "The Inevitable Candidate: Obama?"
description: "As voters go to the polls in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont, seven-in-ten Democrats (70%) say Obama is most likely to win the party's nomination, while just 17% see Clinton as the likely victor. Even a majority (52%) of Clinton's backers say they think Obama is likely to emerge as the winner."
date: "2008-02-29"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2008/02/29/the-inevitable-candidate-obama/"
---

# The Inevitable Candidate: Obama?

As voters go to the polls in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont, Barack Obama has taken a nine-point lead over Hillary Clinton among Democratic voters nationwide (49%-40%); however, more overwhelming is the impression that Obama is going to win, with seven-in-ten Democrats saying Obama is more likely to win the party’s nomination while just 17% see Clinton as the eventual nominee. Even a majority (52%) of Clinton’s backers say they think Obama is likely to win. Barely a third (34%) of Clinton backers predict that she will win the nomination. Since early February, Obama has made substantial gains among conservative Democratic voters, African Americans, and those with a high school education or less. He has now pulled even with Clinton among non-college voters, gaining 20 points among this group since early February. The Illinois senator’s polling lead is a reversal of the eight-point lead Clinton held just three weeks ago. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/750/obama-lead-problems)