In North Carolina, Barack Obama has opened up a twenty-three percentage point lead over Hillary Clinton. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that Obama attracts 56% of the vote while Clinton earns 33%. A month ago, Obama’s lead was just seven percentage points.

While the absolute numbers are different, the trend is similar to results from Pennsylvania where Obama gained ten-points on Clinton during the month of March.

Perhaps the only disturbing news for Obama in the survey is that most Clinton voters (56%) say they are not likely to vote for the Illinois Senator in the general election against John McCain. A month ago, 45% of Clinton voters said they were not likely to vote for Obama against McCain.

There remains an enormous racial divide in the North Carolina data. Obama leads 86% to 9% among African-American voters. Clinton holds a 47% to 38% advantage among white voters in the Tar Heel State. A month ago, Obama led by fifty-three points among African-Americans while Clinton led by twenty points among White voters.

Obama is viewed favorably by 75% of the state’s Likely Primary Voters, up three points from a month ago. Clinton is viewed favorably by 66%, down four since early March.

Nationally, Obama has the edge over Clinton in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

In North Carolina, 52% say that the economy is the top voting issue while 21% name the War in Iraq.

Twenty-eight percent (28%) of Tar Heel Democratic Primary Voters say that Clinton should drop out of the race. Fifteen percent (15%) say the same about Obama. Forty-two percent (42%) say it’s Very Likely the Democratic race will remain unsettled until the convention. Another 38% say that is Somewhat Likely. By a 57% to 29% margin, North Carolina voters believe that Obama would be the better candidate against John McCain.

Seventy-seven percent (77%) have followed news stories about Clinton’s misstatements about her Bosnia trip. Twenty-three percent (23%) say they are a Very Important issue while 25% say the issue is Somewhat Important. Sixty-three percent (63%) say that most politicians lie or embellish the truth when discussing their own accomplishments.

Just 5% of Democratic Primary Voters in North Carolina rate the economy as good or excellent. Thirty percent (30%) say it’s in fair shape while 64% rate current economic conditions as poor. Just 4% say things are getting better while 86% say they are getting worse.

Twenty-seven percent (27%) say the U.S. and its allies are winning the War on Terror while 28% say the terrorists are winning. Just 14% expect the situation in Iraq to get better over the coming six months while 53% say it will get worse.

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.

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