(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama remains ahead of Republican John McCain in the United States, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 50 per cent of respondents would back the Illinois senator in this year’s presidential election, while 45 per cent would vote for the Arizona senator.

Support for Obama increased by one point since early June, while backing for McCain fell by the same margin.

In a contest incorporating two other candidates, Obama is first with 46 per cent, followed by McCain with 43 per cent, independent candidate Ralph Nader with six per cent, and Libertarian nominee Bob Barr with three per cent.

Yesterday, Obama discussed his views on the economy, saying, "The American people are paying the price for the failed economic policies of the past eight years, and we can’t afford four more years of more of the same. That is the essential issue of this campaign, because Senator McCain has fully embraced the Bush economic agenda. I believe it has to change."

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 Barack Obama were the Democratic Party’s candidate and John McCain were the Republican Party’s candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for: Obama, the Democrat, or McCain, the Republican? If unsure: As of today, who do you lean more toward?

Now suppose that the presidential candidates on the ballot in your state included Barack Obama as the Democratic Party’s candidate, John McCain as the Republican candidate, Bob Barr as the Libertarian Party candidate, and Ralph Nader as an independent candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for?

Source: Opinion Research Corporation / CNN
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 921 registered American voters, conducted from Jun. 26 to Jun. 29, 2008. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent.

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