Pamela on Politics: Henry Hyde, the former Republican congressman from Illinois known for his intense opposition to Democrats and fervent call for the impeachment of President Clinton, has died. He was 83. Click here to read and comment.

Obama’s nipping at Clinton’s heels
In South Carolina, where Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) was greeted this week by a battalion of Black preachers, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has stepped up his game, stretching into a statistical tie with the frontrunner. Polls show that 19 percent of voters in the first southern primary state are pulling for Clinton, but Obama is preferred by 17 percent of likely voters. Former Sen. John Edwards got 12 percent. That makes the real treasure trove the nearly 50 percent of voters who say they are still undecided. If Obama’s recent surge is any indication, Clinton could be in real trouble. Just two months ago, she polled at 26 percent and held a double-digit lead over Obama and Edwards. Clinton is faring somewhat better in New Hampshire, where she has maintained her double-digit margin. The latest poll shows her with 34 percent among likely voters, compared with Obama (22 percent), Edwards (15 percent) and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (9 percent). In June, she was 18 percentage points above Obama, 6 percent more than now. Do you think Obama will overtake her in the primaries?

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