Clinton, McCain top US presidential campaign polls

Washington, Jan 25 (UNI) Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton and Republican Senator John McCain are in the lead for their respective party's nomination in the US presidential race, says a new national opinion poll.

Clinton, who has consistently led in national polls, currently enjoys 42.4 per cent support. Her immediate party rival, Senator Barack Obama, has 33.1 percent support. He had registered 21 per cent in a similar poll in December.

Former Senator John Edwards, another Democrat, is far behind them with 13 per cent backing.

In South Carolina, where the next election contest takes place on Saturday, Obama leads Clinton 39 per cent to 24 percent. It is the home state of Edwards but he is unlikely to pose a challenge at this stage.

Senator McCain and former Governor Mitt Romney are locked in a tight contest for first place in the race of Republican nomination.

Former Governor Mike McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani are vying for third place. Their support is as follows: McCain 26.9 per cent, McCain 19.7 per cent and Romney 16.7 per cent.

Meanwhile, fourth Democrat aspirant, Congressman Dennis Kucinich abandoned his second, long-shot bid for the White House. He will make a formal announcement later in the day today. Kucinich got one per cent of the vote in the New Hampshire primary.

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