Hillary Clinton runs better than Barack Obama in general election-match-ups against John McCain in three swing states thanks to her stronger base of support among white working class voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll conducted April 23-29:

– **Florida:** Clinton leads McCain 49 percent to 41 percent while McCain edges Obama 44 percent to 43 percent. The margin of error is 2.6 percent. Clinton ties McCain among white working class voters at 45 percent each, while McCain beats Obama in this group 51 percent to 34 percent.

– **Ohio:** Clinton leads McCain 48 percent to 38 percent, while McCain is ahead of Obama by 43 percent to 42 percent. The margin of error is 2.9 percent. Clinton leads McCain among white working class voters 46 percent to 40 percent while McCain leads Obama 54 percent to 34 percent.

– **Pennsylvania:** Clinton leads McCain 51 percent to 37 percent and Obama bests him 47 percent to 38 percent. The margin of error is 2.5 percent. Clinton leads McCain among white working class voters 48 percent to 40 percent while McCain leads Obama 45 percent to 38 percent.

Quinnipiac’s Peter Brown says, “There is no indication that Obama’s problems with white working class Democrats in the Ohio and Pennsylvania primaries have gone away,” and adds: “If the super delegates are looking at electability, these results could be a shot in the arm for Sen. Clinton … No one has won the White House since 1960 without carrying two of these three swing states.”

A CBS News/New York Times poll yesterday found blue collar workers support Clinton 61 percent to 23 percent over Obama.

There’s been a lot of reporting on Obama’s challenge with white working class voters in recent days that’s worth checking out:

– Obama Walks Fine Line in Quest for White Votes *Boston Globe*
– Eyes on Blue Collar Voters, Obama Shifts Style *New York Times*
– Landing the White Whale *Washington Post*