Chelsea Clinton also was seen by poll respondents as the stronger Democratic contender to beat Senator John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, by 5 percent points. In comparison, Hillary led Chelsea Clinton by 10 points nationwide in the USA Today/Gallup poll just two weeks ago.

Pollsters said the latest results reflected Hillary's political wounds caused by the controversy reignited over comments Senator Clinton about white voters.

The latest USA Today/Gallup poll was conducted May 1-4 among 516 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, with a margin of error of some 5 percentage points.