Hillary Clinton has widened her lead over Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential contest after a dispute over foreign policy, a new poll showed today.
The USA Today/Galluppoll of 1,012 adults showed Ms Clinton's support at 48 per cent among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, versus 26 per cent for Mr Obama. John Edwards' support was at 12 per cent.
USA Todayreported the data showed Ms Clinton advancing 8 percentage points and Mr Obama falling 2 points from polling results from last month.
In a head-to-head match-up, the poll showed Ms Clinton besting Mr Obama 59 per cent to 36 per cent.
Among Republicans, polling data showed former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani at 33 per cent, Fred Thompson at 21 per cent, John McCain at 16 per cent and Mitt Romney at 8 per cent.
USA Todaysaid the findings seemed to reflect some success by Ms Clinton in portraying her chief rival as inexperienced and naive on foreign policy.
In a debate two weeks ago, Mr Obama said he would meet as president with leaders such as as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Ms Clinton refused to make that pledge, saying: "I don't want to be used for propaganda purposes."