Either Democrat Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama would defeat Republican Sen. John McCain in Pennsylvania, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll released this morning.

The Quinnipiac University poll was conducted simultaneously in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, asking registered voters their opinions of 2008 presidential hopefuls.

In Pennsylvania, Mrs. Clinton held a 14-point edge over Mr. McCain, and Mr. Obama held a nine-point edge.

In Ohio and Florida, Mrs. Clinton also held a comfortable margin over Mr. McCain, but in those states, Mr.Obama and Mr. McCain were neck-and-neck, said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"This gives some support to Clinton's argument that she as a Democrat is better able to defeat McCain in the big states needed to win the White House," Mr. Richards said.

Hear Mr. Richards' audio reports on the primary.