New York Senator Hillary Clinton leads Illinois Senator Barack Obama by eight percentage points in the latest Rasmussen Reports poll of the Ohio Democratic Presidential Primary. Clinton currently earns 48% of the Buckeye State vote while Obama attracts 40%. Twelve percent (12%) remain undecided.

A week ago, Clinton held a fourteen point advantage.

Clinton leads by twenty points among women. That’s little changed from a week ago. However, in the previous poll, Clinton also held the advantage among men. Now, she trails Obama by ten among male voters. Clinton does better among lower-income voters and older voters.

The race, like many others in Election 2008, remains very fluid. In addition to the 12% who are undecided, another 17% of voters say they might change their mind before voting.

The shifting opinions of male voters is about the only significant difference between this poll and the previous poll. A recent commentary by Susan Estrich wondered if the “G-word”—gender—is the reason for Clinton’s struggles.

In Ohio, Clinton is viewed favorably by 81%, Obama by 70%. Those figures have changed little over the past week.

Eighty-two percent (82%) of Likely Democratic Primary Voters say that Clinton would be at least somewhat likely to win the White House if nominated. Seventy-five percent (75%) say the same about Obama. Those figures are similar to the earlier survey as well.

Fifty-one percent (51%) of Ohio voters name the economy as the top voting issue. Eighteen percent (18%) say it’s the War in Iraq while 14% name Health Care issues as the top priority.

Ohio is one of two states that the Clinton campaign and many outside experts have deemed essential for the former First Lady to win is she is to have a chance of winning the Democratic Presidential nomination. Texas, which also votes on March 4, is the other. The latest Rasmussen Reports poll in Texas shows Clinton’s lead is down to three points.

In a stunning turn of events, the woman who was considered by many to be the inevitable nominee when the campaign season began now trails Obama nationally in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll. Data from Rasmussen Markets suggests that Obama is now strongly favored to win the nomination.

Rasmussen Markets data immediately prior to the release of this polling data showed the race in Ohio to be a toss-up (current prices: Obama % Clinton % . Overall, in the race for the nomination, Obama is given a % chance to win while expectations for a Clinton victory are at %. Numbers in this paragraph are from a prediction market, not a poll. Using a trading format where traders "buy and sell" candidates, issues, and news features, the Rasmussen harness competitive passions to provide a reliable leading indicator of upcoming events. 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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