Ohio voters split over Clinton, Giuliani

According to Quinnipiac University’s Swing State Poll released today, Sen. Hillary Clinton is leading the Democratic primary race in Ohio.

Among voters here, she has 40 percent support, followed by 12 percent each for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., and former Vice President Al Gore.

“If Sen. Obama is catching Clinton in the primary contest, there is no evidence of it in Florida and Ohio,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

In a Republican primary race, Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani leads, but not by much.

Ohio voters broke for him 25 percent, with 17 percent for former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.; 16 percent for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; 7 percent for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney; and 6 percent for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia.

“Giuliani’s lead among Republicans continues to dwindle," Brown said. "Perhaps his much-discussed difference with the GOP mainstream over issues such as abortion, gay rights and gun control are beginning to take its toll."

Even more interesting - The poll showes that in a match-up between Giuliani and Clinton, the former New York City Mayor is losing ground to the current New York senator – among Ohio voters:

A May 16th poll showed Giuliani leading Clinton in Ohio 47 percent to 43 percent. But today's poll shows the two tied at 43 percent each.

“Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s margins against the Democrats in the critical swing states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida are shrinking, but the differences remain small, especially between the two front-runners," Brown said.

Here's what the poll found in other possible match-ups, based on a sample of 1,013 Ohio voters surveyed between June 18-25 (margin of error is 3.1 percent):

· Giuliani gets 42 percent to Obama’s 40 percent;
· Gore gets 44 percent to Giuliani’s 43 percent;
· Clinton gets 44 percent to McCain’s 42 percent;
· Obama tops McCain 43 – 38 percent;
· McCain gets 43 percent to Gore’s 41 percent;
· Clinton beats Thompson 47 – 38 percent;
· Gore tops Thompson 44 – 38 percent;
· Obama beats Thompson 43 – 35 percent.