US:BARACK OBAMA has surged into a double-digit national lead over Hillary Clinton, with seven out of 10 Americans saying they now believe he will be the Democratic presidential nominee.
A New York Times/CBS News poll puts Mr Obama 16 points ahead of Mrs Clinton and a USA Today/Gallup poll gives him a 12 point lead among Democratic voters with 51 per cent to Mrs Clinton's 39 per cent.
Mr Obama is now the choice of more than two out of three male voters and he has drawn level with Mrs Clinton among women, who have until now been her most loyal supporters.
Mr Obama's surge in support comes despite enduring doubts among voters about his preparedness to be president. The USA Today/Gallup poll finds that 46 per cent of Americans believe he does not have the necessary experience to be president, the same number that believes he is ready to lead the country.
Despite their misgivings, 29 per cent of those who say Mr Obama lacks experience also say they will support him against likely Republican nominee John McCain.
Mr Obama beats Mr McCain by four points in a presidential match-up but the Republican edges Mrs Clinton by two points.
Mrs Clinton's campaign admits that she must win next Tuesday's primaries in Texas and Ohio if she is to remain a viable candidate for the nomination. Her advisers believe that victories in those states could drain momentum from Mr Obama and allow her to close the gap in support of the delegates who will choose the Democratic nominee in August.
The party elite is already moving away from Mrs Clinton, however and former presidential candidate Chris Dodd yesterday became the latest senator to endorse Mr Obama.
"I don't want a campaign that is divisive here, and there's a danger in that," Mr Dodd said.
"This is the moment for Democrats and independents and others to come together, to get behind this candidacy." Mr Dodd is the first of the candidates who dropped out of the Democratic race last month to endorse one of the remaining contenders. Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton have been energetic in wooing former vice-presidential candidate John Edwards and New Mexico governor Bill Richardson said this week that he expects to make an endorsement within days.
With polls showing John McCain almost 40 points ahead of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, the Arizona senator hopes to wrap up the nomination with victories in Texas and Ohio next week.
Mr McCain yesterday disavowed remarks about Mr Obama made by one of his supporters during a campaign event in Cincinnati. Conservative radio talk show host Bill Cunningham referred to the Democrat by his full name of Barack Hussein Obama a number of times during a warm-up speech for Mr McCain.
"Now we have a hack, Chicago-style Daley politician who is picturing himself as change. When he gets done with you, all you're going to have in your pocket is change," Mr Cunningham said, adding that the media will soon "peel the bark off Barack Hussein Obama".
Mr McCain was not on stage or in the building during Mr Cunningham's remarks but he apologised for them after his own speech.
"I did not know about these remarks but I take responsibility for them. I repudiate them. My entire campaign I have treated Senator Obama and Senator Clinton with respect. I will continue to do that throughout this campaign." Asked whether the use of Mr Obama's middle name is appropriate, McCain said: "No, it is not. Any comment that is disparaging of either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama is totally inappropriate."