(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Republican John McCain is barely ahead of Democrat Barack Obama in the United States presidential race, according to a review of eight voting intention surveys conducted over the past twelve days. 46.6 per cent of voters would support the Arizona senator, while 45.1 per cent would back the Illinois senator.

Neither of the two candidates surpasses the 50 per cent mark in any of the recent polls. More than eight per cent of respondents remain undecided, or would vote for other candidates.

McCain has dropped 1.7 points since the last ARGM Poll Average, while Obama is stable.

On Sept. 15, Obama criticized McCain, saying, "I certainly don’t fault Senator McCain for [recent economic] problems. But I do fault the economic philosophy he subscribes to. It’s a philosophy that says even common-sense regulations are unnecessary and unwise; one that says we should just stick our heads in the sand and ignore economic problems until they spiral into crises."

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

National Vote - 2008 U.S. Presidential Election

Contenders: John McCain (R), Barack Obama (D)

(8) Princeton Survey Research Associates International / Newsweek - Telephone interviews with 1,038 registered American voters, conducted on Sept. 10 and Sept. 11, 2008. Margin of error is 3.8 per cent.
(7) Battleground / Lake Research Partners / The Tarrance Group - Telephone interviews with 1,000 likely American voters, conducted from Sept. 7 to Sept. 11, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
(6) Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research / Democracy Corps - Telephone interviews with 1,000 likely American voters, conducted from Sept. 8 to Sept. 10, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
(5) Opinion Dynamics / Fox News - Methodology: Telephone interviews with 900 registered American voters, conducted on Sept. 8 and Sept. 9, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
(4) American Research Group - Telephone interviews with 1,200 likely American voters, conducted from Sept. 6 to Sept. 8, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
(3) Hart/Newhouse / The Wall Street Journal / NBC News - Telephone interviews with 860 registered American voters, conducted from Sept. 6 to Sept. 8, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
(2) GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media / Associated Press - Telephone interviews with 812 likely American voters, conducted from Sept. 5 to Sept. 10, 2008. Margin of error is 3.3 per cent.
(1) Ipsos / McClatchy Newspapers - Telephone interviews with 876 registered American voters, conducted from Sept. 5 to Sept. 9, 2008. Margin of error is 3.3 per cent.

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