Obama Erases Clinton's Lead With Speech

A new Gallup poll puts the two Democratic presidential candidates on even footing nationally, with Barack Obama holding a statistically negligible 1-point lead over Hillary Clinton. The poll, conducted after Obama's widely praised speech on race, suggests that the Illinois senator has erased the damage done by the Jeremiah Wright controversy, writes the Baltimore Sun.

Clinton's earlier lead has "evaporated," according to a Gallup spokeswoman; a week ago, in the immediate aftermath of Wright's comments turning into front-page news, she held a 7-point lead. The poll surveyed about 1,000 Democratic-leaning voters from March 20-22. John McCain continues to hold a slight advantage over both Democratic contenders, Gallup says. (More poll stories.)