(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama is leading Republican John McCain in the United States presidential race, according to a poll by TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence released by Investor’s Business Daily. 43 per cent of respondents would vote for the Illinois senator in this year’s ballot, while 38 per cent would support the Arizona senator.

19 per cent of respondents would vote for other candidates, or remain undecided. Support for Obama increased by three points since July, while backing for McCain went up by one point.

Yesterday, Obama defended his views on the Iraq War, "These are the judgments I’ve made and the policies that we have to debate, because we do have differences in this election. But one of the things that we have to change in this country is the idea that people can’t disagree without challenging each other’s character and patriotism."

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 856 registered American voters, conducted from Aug. 4 to Aug. 9, 2008. Margin of error is 3.2 per cent.

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