POLL: Obama 48 (+3), McCantrememberhowmanyhomes 45 (-4). 48% say Obama attacked unfairly.

[jefferson_dem]

Poll shows fluid, close presidential race
By Susan Page, USA TODAY

DENVER — Americans have significant concerns about Barack Obama's level of experience and John McCain's independence from President Bush's policies, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds. Those are vulnerabilities their campaigns will try to address — and exploit — in the Democratic convention that opens today and the Republican convention that follows next week.

Despite deep pessimism about the nation's direction that is boosting Democratic prospects nationwide, Obama has not yet eased concerns about his ability to serve as commander in chief. And a majority of those surveyed predict he will raise their federal income taxes if elected.

McCain, meanwhile, is credited as a strong and decisive leader but he has lost ground since earlier this year on handling the economy, the electorate's top issue. A majority say his policies as president would most benefit the wealthy.

Their contest remains close and fluid.

Obama holds a 47%-43% edge over McCain among registered voters and a 48%-45% edge among likely voters. Both leads are within the margins of error of +/— 4 percentage points.

In the USA TODAY/Gallup Poll a month ago, Obama led McCain by 3 points but McCain held a 4-point lead among likely voters.

Three of 10 now say they might change their minds between now and Nov. 4.

Among the not-fully-persuaded: Many of the voters who supported New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic primaries. Just under half, 47%, now say they back Obama and won't change their minds. One in five, 23%, say they're supporting Obama now but may switch.

And 30% are say they'll vote for McCain, another candidate or no one at all.

The poll of 1,023 adults, including 939 registered voters and 765 likely voters, was taken Thursday through Saturday. Among the findings:

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• On McCain, four in 10 worry he is too old to be president — he turns 72 on Friday — and 67% say they're concerned he'll pursue policies too similar to Bush. Nearly half of respondents, 48%, say McCain has attacked Obama unfairly, compared with 30% who say Obama has unfairly attacked McCain.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-08-24-campaignpoll_N.htm

More on these digits at kos --- http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/24/192837/112