(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama is barely ahead of Republican John McCain in the United States presidential race, according to the George Washington University Battleground 2008 poll conducted by Lake Snell Perry and Associates and The Tarrance Group. 49 per cent of respondents would back the Illinois senator in this year’s election, while 47 per cent would vote for the Arizona senator.

In a separate match-up, McCain leads New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton by eight points.

On May 23, Rodham Clinton discussed the current nominating process, saying, "We’re going to have to change the system by which we pick the nominees, I believe, and we are with the system we have now. And I’m a big believer in one person one vote, and I believe in as much democracy as possible."

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 you had to make a choice between these two candidates, for whom would you vote: John McCain, the Republican, or (...), the Democrat? And which candidate do you lean toward slightly?

McCain v. Obama

McCain v. Rodham Clinton

Source: George Washington University Battleground 2008 / Lake Snell Perry and Associates / The Tarrance Group
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,018 likely American voters, conducted from May 11 to May 14, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.

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