The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of New Mexico voters shows Barack Obama attracting 50% of the vote while John McCain earns 41%.

One reason for Obama’s growing lead is that the number of fence-sitting Democrats has declined. A month ago, 14% of Democrats say they would vote for a third-party option or were undecided. That figure has fallen to 9% in the current survey. This may reflect growing party unity resulting from the growing perception that Obama will be the Democratic nominee.

Still, while more New Mexico Democrats are now willing to vote for Obama, 21% still plan to vote for McCain. That’s little changed over the past month.

Obama among voters under 50, the candidates are tied among those in the 50-64 age bracket, and McCain leads among senior citizens in the state.

McCain leads among regular churchgoers while Obama has a 64% to 28% advantage among those who rarely or never attend church.

In New Mexico, Obama is viewed favorably by 57% of the state’s voters. That’s little changed from 56% a month ago. McCain is viewed favorably by 50%, down seven points over the past month.

Fourteen percent (14%) of New Mexico voters say that the United States is heading in generally the right direction while 81% believe that nation has gotten off on the wrong track. Those figures are similar to the national average.

Forty-one percent (41%) favor a summer gas tax holiday while 49% are opposed.

Just 37% believe the federal government needs more revenue to fund important government programs. That figure matches the national average.

Sixty-one percent (61%) of New Mexico voters are worried that the next President will raise taxes so much that it harms the economy. Just 34% are worried the next President will cut taxes so much that it harms important government programs.

In New Mexico, 51% of voters own at least $5,000 worth of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

While President Bush narrowly won New Mexico four years ago, just 34% of voters in the state now say he is doing a good or excellent job. Fifty-five percent (55%) say he is doing a poor job.

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