Although there is much speculation about how the continuing Democratic nomination fight is hurting its general election chances (see today’s Chicago Tribune story), a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll conducted May 1-8 has either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton ahead of John McCain. Clinton leads McCain 47 percent to 38 percent with 15 percent undecided and Obama is ahead 46 percent to 40 percent with 14 percent undecided. The margin of error is 3 percent. In both cases, the Obama and Clinton margins have increased compared to this poll’s findings in January and February.

However, these are still figures that show a competitive race and some of the reasons for it are that McCain is showing some strength with groups that normally are a key element of the Democratic candidates – older, white voters where Clinton has been strong, and independents where Obama has flourished.

Today’s Gallup daily tracking poll conducted May 5-9 has Clinton over McCain 48 percent to 44 percent and Obama statistically tied with him at 46 percent to 45 percent. The margin of error is 2 points. In the Democratic race, Gallup’s May 7-9 data has Obama over Clinton 49 percent to 44 percent with a 3 point margin of error. That breaks a streak of 16 days where the two were statistically tied.