Guv rises in Pennsylvania and Michigan, not in Ohio

Three new polls show Gov. Bill Richardson doing reasonably well in two large states and not so well in a third.

In the new polls, Richardson is at 8 percent in Pennsylvania, 7 percent in Michigan and 2 percent in Ohio.

The new poll in Pennsylvania, conducted by the conservative Strategic Vision, had Hillary Clinton in the lead among Democratic contenders with 36 percent, Barack Obama with 25 percent, John Edwards with 12 percent, Richardson with 8 percent and Joe Biden with 5 percent. Twelve percent were undecided.

The overall survey of 1,200 likely voters in Pennsylvania was conducted July 6-8 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent, but the survey asked many questions of Democrats and Republicans. The margin of error for those questions asked only of Democrats, including the question that led to the above numbers, was not included, but is certain to be a bit higher.

The new poll in Michigan, also conducted by Strategic Vision, had Clinton in the lead with 32 percent, Obama with 25 percent, Edwards with 16 percent, Richardson with 7 percent and Biden with 4 percent. Fourteen percent were undecided.

It was conducted the same days and has the same margin of error as the Pennsylvania poll.

In Ohio, a Quinnipiac University poll has Clinton in the lead with 35 percent, Obama with 17 percent, Edwards with 13 percent and the non-candidate Al Gore with 12 percent. The poll surveyed 531 Democrats between July 3 and 9. No other candidate was above the margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percent.

Fifteen percent were undecided.

The polls continue to confirm Richardson’s upward trend, but also serve as a reminder that his support isn’t consistently rising across the nation. His strategy is to do well in early primary states and let that propel him to victory in later contests.

Pennsylvania and Michigan may hold primaries on Feb. 5 or earlier, but Ohio doesn’t plan to move its primary from its scheduled date in March.

So many states are holding their party nominating contests on or before Feb. 5 that we’ll likely know who the nominees from the Democratic and Republican parties are on that day.