(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama remains ahead in the 2008 United States presidential race, according to a poll by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research for Democracy Corps. 49 per cent of respondents would support the Illinois senator this year, while 43 per cent would vote for Republican Arizona senator John McCain.

Support for Obama remained stable since June, while backing for McCain fell by two points. Five per cent of respondents would vote for other candidates, and two per cent are undecided.

Yesterday, McCain criticized the current administration’s handling of the economy—after it was revealed that the country’s deficit would reach $482 billion U.S. in 2009—saying, "There is no more striking reminder of the need to reverse the profligate spending that has characterized this administration’s fiscal policy."

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

Now thinking about the presidential election in November: If the election for president were held today and the candidates were Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, for whom would you vote?

Source: Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research / Democracy Corps
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,004 likely American voters, conducted from Jul. 21 to Jul. 24, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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