Obama opens double-digit national lead

Respondents find him caring - inspiring - diplomatic

A new CBS News/New York Times poll finds Barack Obama with a 16-point lead over rival Hillary Clinton among Democratic primary voters nationwide. Obama, coming off 11 straight primary and caucus victories, had the support of 54% of Democratic primary voters nationally to Clinton's 38%. In a similar poll taken three weeks ago,Obama and Clinton were tied at 41%; Clinton led by 15 points nationally in January.

• Clinton has lost her advantage among women, according to the poll: The two leading Democrats now have even levels of support among female primary voters.

• Men, meanwhile, disproportionately favor Obama. He leads Clinton among male Democratic primary voters 67% to 28%, and leads among white men 61% to 33%.

• 59% of Democratic primary voters said Obama has the best chance of beating likely Republican nominee John McCain in the general election. 28% said Clinton is most likely to win in November.

• Obama is now seen as the likely Democratic nominee: More than two-thirds of Democratic primary voters said they expect the Illinois senator to win the nomination.

• When all registered voters were asked who they favored in a head-to-head general election match up between Obama and McCain, Obama led by 12 percentage points, 50 to 38 percent.

• In a Clinton-McCain match up, registered voters were evenly split, with 46% backing each candidate.

• Obama beats McCain by 10 points among independents, while McCain beats Clinton by 17 points among that group.