(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama is barely leading Republican John McCain in this year’s United States presidential race, according to a poll by TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence for Investor’s Business Daily. 40 per cent of respondents would back the Illinois senator, while 37 per cent would support the Arizona senator.

23 per cent of respondents would vote for other contenders or are undecided. Support for Obama fell by three points since June, while backing for McCain dropped by the same margin.

On Jul. 17, former U.S. vice-president Al Gore dismissed rumours that he would consider becoming Obama’s running mate, saying, "I have many times said, you know, I have a personal term limit. Only two terms as VP. (...) I’ve imposed a personal term limit of two terms as VP."

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 2008 election for United States president were held today and the following were candidates for whom would you vote? Would you say Democrat Barack Obama or Republican John McCain?

Source: TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence / Investor’s Business Daily
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 854 registered American voters, conducted from Jul. 7 to Jul. 11, 2008. Margin of error is 3.2 per cent.

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