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Posted: February 5, 2008 8:44 PM
Clinton Hopes to Defend Home Turf in New York
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When New York polls at 9 p.m. ET, Sen. Hillary Clinton, the state’s U.S. senator, will be hosting an event in New York City that her campaign has billed as a “celebration,” but recent numbers show her
rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama testing the loyalty of her constituents.

“Sen. Obama has gained yardage in New York, but the clock is running out and Sen. Clinton still has the home field advantage,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

New York has 232 delegates up for grabs, and even if Clinton wins a majority of the popular vote, in the proportional system, Obama could still wind up with a portion of those delegates. He has gained recognition in areas of New York, especially among black voters.

Clinton has maintained a lead, with 53.5 percent compared to Obama’s 36.3 percent, according to a RealClearPoltics poll average but recent polls showed Obama catching up — if at least a little — as the primary approached.

“In New York, Sen. Clinton leads Illinois Sen. Barack Obama 53 - 39 percent among likely Democratic primary voters, compared to 51 - 25 percent January 22,” a Quinnipac University poll reported.

Clinton was elected as the state’s U.S. senator in 200 and easily won re-election in 2006, with 67 percent of the vote. In the past weeks, she has picked up endorsements from The New York Daily News, Newsday, and most notably The New York Times.