Obama pulls even with Hillary

From Reuters News Service:

WASHINGTON: On the heels of a burst of successful fund-raising, Democratic 2008 presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama has pulled even with frontrunner Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, a new poll released on Monday found.

Obama, a firs-term senator from Illinois, has steadily gained on Clinton, a veteran on the national political scene, over the last month and each now polled 32% among likely Democratic voters, the survey by Rasmussen Reports found. Former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina was third in the poll with 17%.

In late March, New York’s Clinton held a 12-point lead over Illinois’ Obama in the Rasmussen poll.

The survey was the latest sign the former first lady, who now represents New York in the Senate, will have a tough fight ahead to win the Democratic nomination. Obama, who has served two years in the US Senate, earlier this month revealed he raised $25.8 million in the first quarter of 2007, nearly matching the $26 million she raised.

In Chicago on Monday, Obama outlined a foreign policy agenda he said would double US foreign aid to improve living conditions around the world and reduce the appeal of terrorism.

Obama also said the 2008 election will give the US a chance to change the world’s view of America.