Friday, September 12, 2008

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John McCain continues to enjoy a modest lead over Barack Obama in the race for Missouri’s Electoral College votes.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Missouri shows the Republican presidential candidate attracting 51% of the vote while his Democratic opponent earns 45%. This is similar to results from both last month and the month before. In fact, since wrapping up the Republican nomination in early March, McCain has led Obama in every poll but one.

The sole exception came in a poll conducted on June 3, the night Obama clinched the Democratic nomination. On that night, he held a statistically insignificant one-point lead over McCain.

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McCain is supported by 92% of Missouri Republicans and enjoys a 16-percentage-point lead among unaffiliated voters. Obama is supported by 88% of Democrats. (Premium Members can review demographic crosstabs).

McCain is currently viewed favorably by 58% of Missouri voters, Obama by 53%. Those numbers, too, have changed little over the past month.

As for their running mates, GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is viewed favorably by 58% of Missouri voters, a figure that includes 41% with a Very Favorable opinion. Delaware Senator Joseph Biden, the Democratic candidate for vice president, is viewed favorably by 51%, including 28% with a Very Favorable opinion.

Voters are evenly divided as to whether Palin is ready to be president—43% say yes while 42% disagree. By a 51% to 30% margin, voters say Biden is ready for the top job if necessary.

But Missouri voters are more likely to say that McCain made the right choice for vice president. Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters in the Show Me state agree with his decision while 36% disagree. Only 37% believe that, in selecting Biden, Obama made the right choice. Nearly as many—33%--say he did not.

Rasmussen Markets data shows that Republicans are currently given a % chance of winning Missouri’s 11 Electoral College Votes this fall.

George W. Bush won the state by seven points in Election 2004 and by three points four years earlier. At the time this poll was released, Missouri is ranked as “Leans Republican” in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator. NOTE: Factors other than the latest Rasmussen Reports poll impact the Balance of Power ratings. The current status is indicated on the table in the upper right hand corner of this article.

Rasmussen Reports has released polls on the presidential race this week for Washington, Alaska, Michigan, Montana, Colorado, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Idaho, New Mexico and North Dakota. Additional state poll results will be released at RasmussenReports.com each Monday at 6:00 p.m. Eastern and Tuesday-Friday at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll is released each morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. Other polling is released at 7:00 a.m., Noon, and 3:00 p.m. Eastern weekdays along with other updates as needed.

Premium Members can review full demographic crosstabs for all state polls and get the first look at all Rasmussen Reports polling data. Learn More.

This survey was conducted in partnership with Fox Television Stations Inc.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.