(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Voters in the United States keep Democrat Barack Obama ahead of Republican John McCain in the 2008 United States presidential race, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 47 per cent of respondents would vote for the Illinois senator this year, while 42 per cent would back the Arizona senator.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Voters in the United States keep Democrat Barack Obama ahead of Republican John McCain in the 2008 United States presidential race, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 47 per cent of respondents would vote for the Illinois senator this year, while 42 per cent would back the Arizona senator.
Two per cent of respondents would back other candidates, and nine per cent are undecided. Support for Obama fell by three points since July, while backing for McCain increased by one point.
On Aug. 19, McCain discussed energy, saying, "Americans across our country are hurting, as we all know, because of the cost of energy. Gas prices are through the roof. Energy costs have seeped into our grocery bills, making it more expensive to feed our families. Now as we prepare for the winter, it’s time for us to be more serious about our home heating oil needs. (…) And that means we need to start drilling offshore."
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 election for president were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you vote? (…) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain?
|
Aug. 2008 |
Jul. 2008 |
May 2008 |
|
|
Barack Obama (D) |
47% |
50% |
47% |
|
John McCain (R) |
42% |
41% |
40% |
|
Someone else |
2% |
2% |
2% |
|
Would not vote |
– |
– |
4% |
|
Not sure |
9% |
7% |
8% |
Source: Quinnipiac University Polling Institute
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,547 likely American voters, conducted from Aug. 12 to Aug. 17, 2008. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.
