(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain are dead even in the 2008 United States presidential race, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 46 per cent of respondents would back the Illinois senator, while 46 per cent would vote for the Arizona senator.

Support for McCain increased by one point since early May, while backing for Obama remained stable. In a separate contest, New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton holds a five-point lead over McCain.

On May 22, Obama criticized McCain for his decision to oppose a package of benefits to Iraq war veterans, saying, "I can’t understand why he would line up behind the president in opposition to this GI Bill. I can’t believe why he believes it is too generous to our veterans. I could not disagree with him and the president more on this issue."

McCain dismissed Obama’s statement, declaring, "I take a backseat to no one in my affection, respect and devotion to veterans. And I will not accept from Senator Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did."

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

Possible match-ups - 2008 U.S. presidential election

McCain v. Obama

McCain v. Rodham Clinton

Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 4,471 registered American voters, conducted from May 18 to May 22, 2008. Margin of error is 2 per cent.

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