DALLAS — With Texas now in high profile in Presidential primaries, the Texas Credit Union League Friday released results of a combined political/CU awareness poll of 800 voters showing Hillary Clinton ahead of Barack Obama by 8 percentage points or what the league calls a “statistical dead heat.”

The poll taken by two national polling firms that phoned 400 Democrats and 400 GOP also covers a series of state issues and has been a regular league event during primary season with the survey findings “taking on lots more relevance,” said a trade group spokeswoman.

As in the past, the poll asked voters about the CU/bank differences and various financial concerns including identity thefts and product choices.

With less than a week before the Texas primary voting, Clinton leads Obama 49-41% in the Democratic race, said the survey. The Republican primary race shows John McCain at 45% ahead of Mike Huckabee with 41% and Ron Paul in his home state at 6%.

In terms of Texas issues, “illegal immigration continues to be the driving issue among Republican primary voters, while Democratic primary voters are more concerned with education,” said the league.