(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama is ahead of Republican John McCain in the 2008 United States presidential race, according to a poll by Research 2000. 51 per cent of respondents would back the Illinois senator, while 39 per cent would vote for the Arizona senator.

Libertarian candidate Bob Barr is a distant third with three per cent, followed by independent candidate Ralph Nader with two per cent. Five per cent of respondents would vote for other candidates, or remain undecided.

On Jul. 26, Nader discussed his campaign, saying, "The stands McCain and Obama have taken again and again do not have the support of the majority of American people. (...) We have a shredded Democracy in this country."

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, who would you vote for if the choices were between Barack Obama, the Democrat, John McCain, the Republican, Bob Barr, the Libertarian, or Ralph Nader, an independent?

Source: Research 2000
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,100 likely American voters, conducted from Jul. 25 to Jul. 27, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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