A new Detroit News poll finds Hillary with a strong lead over Obama in Michigan -- a state that could conceivably assume more importance if it succeeds in moving up its primary, as its government is trying to do.

The survey finds that Hillary has 40%, followed by Barack Obama at 21% and John Edwards at 16%.

On the GOP side Mitt Romney's status as a native of Michigan has only given him the slimmest of leads over Rudy. He has 25% to Rudy's 23%, a lead that's within the poll's 4.9 point margin of error. Fred Thompson has 16%, while John McCain trails in fourth place with 15%.