Who's the strongest candidate to take on John McCain?

Earlier today, the campaign released a memo to all superdelegates, demonstrating why Barack Obama is best positioned to defeat John McCain in November:

Who's the strongest candidate to take on John McCain?

After 45 contests, Senator Obama has won more delegates, twice as many states and territories, and more of the popular vote. He's won in every part of the country, and has scored victories among every segment of electorate. He's inspired Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, building an unprecedented coalition of more than 1.4 million contributors. And when it comes to head-to-head match-ups versus John McCain, Obama performs better than Clinton in key states and shows the potential to put new states in play for Democrats up and down the ballot.

Polling data from across the country, from large states and small, reflects the advantage Senator Obama would bring in a race this fall. His ability to expand the Democratic base, and his ability to capture the crucial Independent vote, make him a stronger candidate than Senator Clinton, who would enter the fall campaign with the highest unfavorable ratings of any nominee in half a century.


Big States:

• California: Obama beats McCain by 27, Clinton beats him by 23. (SurveyUSA, 2/23)
• New York: A February poll of Clinton's home state shows her beating McCain by 11, while Obama beats McCain by 10. (Quinnipiac, 3/18)
• New Jersey: Obama and Clinton both beat McCain by 5. (Farleigh Dickinson, 3/30)
• Illinois: Obama beats McCain by 29 in his home state, while Clinton wins by 9. (SurveyUSA, 2/28)

Traditional Battlegrounds:

• Iowa: Obama up 7, Clinton down 6. (SurveyUSA, 4/17),
  
  • Among Independents: Obama up 9, Clinton down 31. (Rasmussen, 3/31)
• North Carolina: Clinton trails McCain by 11, Obama ties him. (Rasmussen, 4/10)
  • Among Independents: Obama up 8, Clinton down 16. (Rasmussen, 4/10)
• Oregon: Obama up 9, Clinton up only 1 (SurveyUSA, 4/17) A march poll showed Obama up 6 and Clinton down 6 (Rasmussen, 3/26)
  • Among Independents: Obama up 11, Clinton up 4. (Rasmussen, 3/26)
• Wisconsin: Obama up 5 while Clinton ties. (SurveyUSA, 4/17) A March poll showed Obama up 4 and Clinton down 4. (WPR, 3/26)
  • Among Independents: Obama up 17, Clinton up 2. (Rasmussen, 3/26)
• Michigan: Obama trailing by 1, Clinton trailing by 3. (Rasmussen, 3/25) A February poll showed Obama up 8 and Clinton tied. (Rasmussen, 2/17)
• New Mexico: Obama up by 3, Clinton down by 3. (Rasmussen, 4/8)
  • Among Independents: Obama up 8, Clinton down 5. (Rasmussen, 4/8)
• Nevada: Obama leads by 4, Clinton leads by 1. (Rasmussen 3/19)
• Minnesota: Obama up 14, Clinton up 5. (Rasmussen, 4/22)
  • Among Independents: Obama up 9, Clinton down 14. (Rasmussen 3/19)
• Pennsylvania: Clinton up 9, Obama up 8 (Rasmussen, 4/9)
  • Among Independents: Obama down 1, Clinton down 19. (Rasmussen, 4/9)

Making New States Competitive:

• Colorado: Obama up 3, Clinton down 14. (Rasmussen, 4/19) A February poll showed up Obama up 9 and Clinton down 6. (SurveyUSA, 2/28)
  • Among Independents: Obama up 9, Clinton down 13. (Rasmussen, 3/17)
• North Dakota: Obama up 4, Clinton down 19. (SurveyUSA, 2/28)
  • Among Independents: Obama up 9, Clinton down 29. (Survey USA, 2/28)
• Virginia: Obama down 8, Clinton down 16. (SurveyUSA, 4/17)
  • Among Independents: Obama up 10, Clinton down 8. (SurveyUSA, 3/16)
• Montana: Obama down 5, Clinton down 18 (Rasmussen, 4/6)
  • Among Independents: Obama down 2, Clinton down 12 (Rasmussen, 4/6)
• Texas: Obama down only 1, Clinton down 7 (SurveyUSA, 2/28)