(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama holds the upper hand in the 2008 United States presidential race, according to a poll by Ipsos-Public Affairs released by the Associated Press. 47 per cent of respondents would back the Illinois senator in this year’s election, while 41 per cent would vote for Arizona senator John McCain.

Independent candidate Ralph Nader is a distant third with three per cent, followed by Libertarian nominee Bob Barr with two per cent. Five per cent of respondents would not vote for any of these four candidates, and three per cent are undecided.

On Aug. 6, Nader said he hopes to garner the backing of disillusioned voters, saying, "Things are getting so bad, for libertarians and liberals there’s starting to be a convergence of interests. I think it’s a huge step."

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 held today and the candidates were (...), for whom would you vote?

Source: Ipsos-Public Affairs / Associated Press
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 833 registered American voters, conducted from Jul. 31 to Aug. 4, 2008. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.

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