(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Democrat Barack Obama leads Republican John McCain in the United States presidential race, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 46 per cent of respondents would vote for the Illinois senator in this year’s election, while 43 per cent would vote for the Arizona senator.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Democrat Barack Obama leads Republican John McCain in the United States presidential race, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 46 per cent of respondents would vote for the Illinois senator in this year’s election, while 43 per cent would vote for the Arizona senator.
Support for Obama increased by two points since March, while backing for McCain went up by one point. In a separate match-up, McCain is virtually tied with New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
On Apr. 30, McCain defended his call for a temporary suspension of the federal gasoline tax, saying, "In all due respect, all I’m trying to do is give Americans a little relief for the summer. (…) It isn’t a lot of money, but there’s a lot of Americans that could use a little break."
In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2004, Republican George W. Bush earned a second term after securing 286 electoral votes from 31 states. Democratic nominee John Kerry received 252 electoral votes from 19 states and the District of Columbia.
Bush is ineligible for a third term in office. The presidential election is scheduled for Nov. 4.
Polling Data
If the next election for president were held today, and John McCain were the Republican candidate and (…) were the Democratic candidate, for whom would you vote?
McCain vs. Obama
|
|
Apr. 28 |
Mar. 25 |
Mar. 7 |
|
Barack Obama (D) |
46% |
44% |
47% |
|
John McCain (R) |
43% |
42% |
44% |
|
Depends |
1% |
3% |
1% |
|
Neither / Other |
5% |
4% |
3% |
|
Not sure |
5% |
7% |
5% |
McCain vs. Rodham Clinton
|
Apr. 28 |
Mar. 25 |
Mar. 7 |
|
|
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) |
45% |
44% |
47% |
|
John McCain (R) |
44% |
46% |
45% |
|
Depends |
1% |
1% |
1% |
|
Neither / Other |
5% |
4% |
3% |
|
Not sure |
5% |
5% |
4% |
Source: Hart/McInturff / The Wall Street Journal / NBC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,006 American adults, conducted from Apr. 25 to Apr. 28, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
