The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of North Carolina’s Presidential Primary, conducted Thursday night, finds Barack Obama leading Hillary Clinton 49% to 40%. Earlier this week, Obama led by fourteen, 51% to 37%. A month ago, Obama led by twenty-three percentage points.

The demographic results in North Carolina are similar to the dynamics seen nationally and in most primaries—Clinton leads by twenty-three points among White voters while Obama leads 74% to 10% among African-Americans. Clinton leads among senior citizens, the candidates split those in the 50-64 age range, and Obama leads among younger voters.

Eighty percent (80%) have followed news stories about Barack Obama’s former Pastor, Jeremiah Wright. Forty-three percent (43%) believe Obama denounced Wright because he was outraged while 40% believe political convenience was the motivation. Seventy percent (70%) of Clinton supporters say Obama was politically motivated. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Obama supporters say their candidate was outraged by Wright.

Forty percent (40%) say it’s at least somewhat likely that Obama shares some of Wright’s controversial views about the United States. That figure includes 62% of Clinton voters.

Overall, 15% of Likely Democratic Primary Voters in North Carolina agree with Wright’s comments about the U.S. That figure includes 22% of Obama voters. Wright himself is viewed favorably by 15% of Likely North Carolina Primary Voters.

Nationally, in the wake of Wright’s Monday Press Conference, Obama has lost his lead over Clinton in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll. Most voters across the nation believe that Obama denounced Wright for political convenience.

Obama is viewed favorably by 69% of the state’s Likely Primary Voters. That’s down two points since Monday and down six points over the past month.. Clinton is viewed favorably by 61%. Her total is down one from Monday and down five since a month ago.

Among Clinton voters, Obama is viewed favorably by 35%. Among Obama voters, Clinton is viewed favorably by 37%.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the Likely Primary Voters say they are at least somewhat likely to vote for Clinton against McCain. Twenty-five percent (25%) are not. Seventy-one percent (71%) are likely to vote for Obama in the general election while 27% say they are not likely to do so.

Rasmussen Markets data just prior to the release of this poll showed Obama was heavily favored to win the North Carolina Primary. Current prices show that Obama has a % chance of winning while Clinton is given a % chance of victory. Numbers in this paragraph are from a prediction market, not a poll. We invite you to participate in the Rasmussen Markets. It costs nothing to join and add your voice to the collective wisdom of the market.

Fifty-five percent (55%) of survey respondents were women and 45% men. Sixty-one percent (61%) were White, 36% African-American, and 3% some other racial heritage. Ten percent (10%) were under 30 and 54% over 50.

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