Republicans are as divided as Democrats when it comes to who they would like to see as the Democratic nominee, according to a USA Today/Gallup poll conducted April 18-20. Forty-eight percent prefer Hillary Clinton to 44 percent for Barack Obama and 8 percent expressing no opinion. The margin of error is 5 percent.

In terms of motivation, about a quarter of Republicans would like to see Clinton nominated because they are more worried about Obama getting into the Oval Office. Fifteen percent choose Clinton because they believe John McCain has a better chance of beating her. One-third of those choosing Obama do so because they don’t want Clinton as President. Seven percent say it is because McCain has a better chance against Obama.

Meanwhile, the Gallup daily tracking poll gives McCain a 6 point lead over Obama based on a survey conducted April 27-May 1. This is the largest lead McCain has had over either Democrat since Gallup began its general election tracking. The margin of error is 2 percent. McCain leads Obama 48 percent to 42 percent but is statistically tied with Clinton, edging her 46 percent to 45 percent.