New Marist polls of Ohio and Pennsylvania: Obama up by 4 in Ohio and 12 in PA among LIKELY voters

[WI_DEM]

Presidential Race in Ohio:

· Obama Has a Narrow Lead Over McCain in the Buckeye State: The presidential race in Ohio is no longer a statistical dead heat. Among registered voters, Senator Barack Obama now outpaces Senator John McCain 48% to 40%. A Marist Poll conducted just last month had McCain and Obama each with the support of 44% of registered voters. Among likely voters including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate, Obama has 49% compared with 45% for McCain. Support for the candidates split along party lines. 85% of likely Republican voters report they back John McCain. A similar proportion of likely Democrats -- 89% -- are behind their party’s candidate. Independent voters are divided. 44% say they back Obama while 47% report being for McCain. 6% of these key voters have not made up their minds.


Race Opens Up in Pennsylvania…Obama Pulls Ahead by 9 Percentage Points Among Registered Voters…Has Double-Digit Lead Among Likely Voters: The once tight presidential race in Pennsylvania is now tipping in Senator Barack Obama’s favor. He leads Senator John McCain among the state’s registered voters 49% to 40%. Among likely voters including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate, Obama is in front of McCain by 12 percentage points -- 53% to 41%. In a Marist Poll released less than one month ago, Obama had the support of 45% of Pennsylvania’s registered voters compared with 42% for McCain. Among the state’s likely voters, Obama had 49% to 44% for McCain in the previous poll. Pennsylvania’s likely voters currently divide along party lines. 88% of Democrats and 83% of Republicans likely to vote on Election Day now support their party’s candidate. A majority of Independents -- 53% -- favor Obama compared with 34% for McCain. 12% of these voters are still undecided.

http://www.maristpoll.marist.edu/

[Hope And Change]

1. K & R!

[SeeHopeWin]

2. And right next door in Indiana, there is

a fat lady warming up, clearing her throat, Ahua Ahua, cough cough...:)

[WI_DEM]

3. I hope so, I'd love to see Obama win Indiana.

[Kukesa]

5. Oh, I hope she sings!!! n/t

[WI_DEM]

4. I think we can finally stop calling PA a "battleground state"

[occe]

8. Was PA ever leaning towards McCain?

Just wondering, maybe in the beginning?

[AllentownJake]

11. Never leaning McCain

He was up by 1 point once during his Palin surge. It was considered a toss-up for a week than went back to lean Obama.

[grantcart]

10. hell no we want McCain to keep going back and back and back

[WI_DEM]

12. Good point.

[dtotire]

6. Just Hope They Are Right About Ohio n/t

[WI_DEM]

7. Other polls seem to indicate a drift towards Obama too, in Ohio.

[Barack_America]

9. Wow? A greater lead among "likely voters"? That's new.

I guess that means some of Republican base is demoralized and not quite sure if they'll show up to vote.

Great news!

[DCBob]

15. Right. That's a good sign. It means Obama's support is now hardening.

It may be too late now for McCain to change voter's minds.

[darius15]

13. I demand that CNN now has a thread saying Obama is gaining ground in Ohio, just like they did

yesterday when McCain gained a single point.

[kwolf68]

14. Lets just vote already

3 weeks away...i dont want to rush time, but i want this election (as im sure all my fellow DUers)