The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Maine shows Barack Obama leading John McCain by ten percentage points, 49% to 39%. If Hillary Clinton becomes the Democratic nominee, she leads McCain by five, 47% to 42%.

Four years ago, John Kerry won the state and its four Electoral College Votes by nine points. In Election 2000, Al Gore won the state by five.

Currently, Obama is viewed favorably by 59% of the state’s voters, McCain by 55%, and Clinton by 49%.

Forty-three percent (43%) of Maine’s voters say the economy is the top voting issue for Election 2008. Twenty-two percent (22%) say it’s the War in Iraq.

Most, 53%, rate the U.S. economy as poor. Just 11% say it’s in good or excellent shape. Six percent (6%) say it’s getting better while 81% say the economy is getting worse. Those figures are similar to attitudes nationwide as consumer and investor confidence has fallen to record lows in the Rasmussen Consumer Index.

When it comes to the War in Iraq and the larger War on Terror, voters in Maine are a bit more pessimistic that voters nationwide. Forty percent (40%) say the U.S. and its allies are winning the War on Terror. Thirty percent (30%) believe the terrorists are winning. Thirty percent (30%) believe the situation in Iraq will get better over the next six months but 45% believe it will get worse.

Sixty-two percent (62%) believe that American society is generally fair and decent while 28% say it is unfair and discriminatory.

Just 29% of voters in Maine say that President Bush is doing a good or an excellent job. Twice as many, 57%, say he is doing a poor job.

At the time this poll was released, Maine was rated as Safely Democratic in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator. The calculator factors in poll results, results from Rasmussen Markets, voting history, and other factors to determine a state’s rating.

Rasmussen Markets data immediately prior to the release of this poll showed that Democrats were overwhelmingly favored to win Maine in the general election (current pricing: Democrats %; Republicans %) Numbers in this paragraph are from a prediction market, not a poll. We invite you to participate in the Rasmussen Markets. It costs nothing to join and add your voice to the collective wisdom of the market.

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