Democratic presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are locked in a virtual dead heat in Indiana, according to the latest Howey-Gauge Poll.

Hoosiers favor Obama over Clinton by the slim margin of 47 percent to 45 percent.

In the race for governor, Democrat Jill Long Thompson holds a commanding lead of 45 percent to 27 percent over challenger Jim Schellinger, who suffers from a lack of name recognition, according to pollsters.

The poll by Gauge Market Research was conducted April 23-24, after the Pennsylvania primary election, through two surveys of 600 likely voters. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

In the 5th Congressional District, a survey of 400 likely voters found 57 percent prefer U.S. Rep. Dan Burton compared to 22 percent for his Republican challenger, Dr. John McGoff.

A similar survey in the 7th Congressional District has newly elected U.S. Rep. Andre Carson leading his closest rival, Dr. Woody Myers, by a margin of 45 percent to 27 percent. State Reps. David Orentlicher and Carolene Mays trail with 7 percent and 4 percent, respectively.

Brian A. Howey publishes Howey Politics Indiana, a non-partisan political newsletter and Web site. Michael R. Davis is president of Gauge Market Research, a locally based polling company.