Barack Obama has marginally expanded his lead over John McCain in Maine. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds the Democrat ahead 49% to 36%.
When “leaners” are included, Obama leads 53% to 39%.
Last month, Obama had a ten point lead over McCain, representing a much tighter race than the 20-point margin the Democrat enjoyed in June.
A noticeable change this month comes from voters not affiliated with either major party. This month, Obama now leads among unaffiliated voters 48% to 32%. In July, the candidates were nearly tied among this demographic.
While Obama dominates among women, 52% to 31%, he now leads 47% to 41% among men in Maine. The Democrat also fares much better among single voters than married voters.
McCain is viewed favorably by 53% and unfavorably by 44%. Obama’s ratings in Maine are 61% favorable, 36% unfavorable.
Most voters in Maine (87%) think finding new sources of energy is an urgent national need. That number is even higher than the national average. The overwhelming majority (80%) also believe reducing the amount of energy Americans now consume is an urgent national need. More voters in Maine (56%) think finding new sources of energy is more important than reducing consumption. Just over a third (35%) of voters say the opposite is more important.
Most voters in Maine (63%) agree with voters nationwide that most politicians will break rules to help those who contribute large amounts of money to their campaigns. Voters are split, however, on whether campaign contributions or media bias poses a bigger problem in elections today. While 46% say big campaign contributions are the bigger problem, 43% say that of media bias. Slightly more voters (44%) think John McCain is more influenced by contributions than Barack Obama (38%).
Nationally, 55% say media bias is a bigger problem than large campaign contributions.
Just 24% of voters in Maine give President George W. Bush good or excellent ratings. A solid majority (59%) rate his job performance as poor.
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This telephone survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports August 12, 2008. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
See Methodology.
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Maine Trends: McCain vs. Obama |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Date |
McCain |
Obama |
|
11/01/2008 |
43% |
56% |
|
46% |
51% |
|
|
46% |
50% |
|
|
36% |
49% |
|
|
36% |
46% |
|
|
33% |
55% |
|
|
38% |
51% |
|
|
39% |
49% |
|
|
Favorable Ratings for Presidential Candidates in Maine |
||
|---|---|---|
|
McCain |
Obama |
|
|
Very Favorable |
21% |
45% |
|
Somewhat Favorable |
31% |
18% |
|
Somewhat Unfavorable |
22% |
9% |
|
Very Unfavorable |
23% |
27% |
|
Not Sure |
2% |
1% |
|
Rasmussen Reports - Electoral College Balance of Power Summary |
|
|---|---|
|
160 |
|
|
260 |
|
|
118 |
|
Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.
The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2008 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a Presidential election.
Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.
