Barack Obama has pulled in front of John McCain in Ohio. The latest Fox News/Rasmussen Reports telephone poll in the state finds Obama leading 49% to 47%.
This is the first poll where Obama has been ahead since tracking of the race began in February. McCain has led by a single percentage points for the past three weeks, after a four-point lead in mid-September. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of voters say they are certain of who they will vote for, while 23% say there is still a chance they can change their minds.
Obama now leads 49% to 42% among unaffiliated voters in Ohio. He also leads 53% to 43% among women while McCain has a 52% to 45% edge among men (See full demographic crosstabs.)
McCain is viewed favorably by 55% of Ohio voters and unfavorably by 44%. Obama’s ratings are 53% favorable, 46% unfavorable.
Voters still trust McCain more by a 48% to 45% margin. However, in early September, the Republican had a thirteen point advantage on this issue.
On the top issue of the economy, Obama has a 50% to 45% advantage. McCain leads his opponent on national security, 52% to 43%.
While 63% of voters say they would be at least somewhat comfortable with a McCain presidency, 59% say that of Obama. However, 32% say they would be extremely comfortable with Obama in office, while 23% say that about McCain. One in three voters (33%) in Ohio say they would not be comfortable with McCain in office, while 39% say the same about Obama.
Sixty-seven percent (67%) of Ohio voters say they would be at least somewhat comfortable with Joe Biden as Vice President, while only 54% say that about Sarah Palin. Just 29% of voters say they would not be at all comfortable with Biden as VP, compared to 42% who say the same about Palin.
Governor Ted Strickland earns good or excellent job approval ratings from 49% of voters, while 17% say he is doing a poor job.
President Bush earns good or excellent ratings from 30% of voters, while 49% give his job performance a poor rating.
See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available for Premium Members only.
This telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports October 12, 2008. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
See Methodology.
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Ohio Trends: McCain vs. Obama |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Date |
McCain |
Obama |
|
11/02/2008 |
49% |
49% |
|
45% |
49% |
|
|
49% |
47% |
|
|
49% |
49% |
|
|
47% |
49% |
|
|
48% |
47% |
|
|
48% |
47% |
|
|
47% |
46% |
|
|
50% |
46% |
|
|
48% |
45% |
|
|
51% |
44% |
|
|
45% |
41% |
|
|
46% |
40% |
|
|
44% |
43% |
|
|
45% |
44% |
|
|
47% |
40% |
|
|
46% |
40% |
|
|
42% |
41% |
|
|
Favorable Ratings for Presidential Candidates in Ohio |
||
|---|---|---|
|
McCain |
Obama |
|
|
Very Favorable |
36% |
40% |
|
Somewhat Favorable |
21% |
10% |
|
Somewhat Unfavorable |
19% |
11% |
|
Very Unfavorable |
20% |
37% |
|
Not Sure |
3% |
3% |
|
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.
