Poll: Obama has 23 point lead over Clinton in North Carolina

WRAL - Barack Obama has a 23 percentage point lead over Hillary Clinton in the Tar Heel state, as both candidates prepare for the North Carolina Presidential Primary, according to a WRAL News poll released Saturday.The telephone survey conduted by Rasmussen Reports showed Obama with 56 percent of the vote, while Clinton earned just 33 percent. A month ago, Obama’s lead was seven percentage points.Both candidates have gained ground against Republican John McCain in the state, according to the survey. The same trend has been found in Pennsylvania.Public perception of both Democrats has improved in the past month with 54 percent of Tar Heel voters viewing Obama as favorable. Clinton is viewed favorable by 43 percent of the state’s voters. The figures are a six-point gain for Obama and a five-point gain for Clinton since last month.McCain’s favorable rating still tops both Democrats at 59 percent, a three-percentage-point drop over the past month.Nationally, McCain leads ...