Barack Obama continues to widen his lead over John McCain in Pennsylvania, where the Democrat is now ahead 50% to 42% in the latest Fox News/Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of voters in the state.

Just three days ago Obama was ahead by four. Two weeks ago the race was tied in the Keystone State.

Three percent (3%) of Pennsylvania voters support Green Party candidate Ralph Nader, and two percent (2%) back Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr. That is the highest level of third party support found in any battleground state.

Republicans have viewed Pennsylvania, with its 21 Electoral College votes, as a traditionally Democratic state that might swing into the McCain column, but the continuing economic turmoil is hurting the GOP candidate here as it is elsewhere around the country.

Nationally, after weeks of a neck-and-neck race, Obama has begun pulling away from McCain in the last several days in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

In Pennsylvania, both McCain and Obama have the support of 84% of the members of their respective parties, but Obama now leads among unaffiliated voters 45% to 28%.

Women support Obama by a sizable 59% to 35% margin, while men back McCain 50% to 39%.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of white voters would not be comfortable at all with Obama as president, while 31% feel that way about McCain. Forty-one percent (41%) say the same of Sarah Palin as vice president, but only 31% would not be comfortable with Democrat Joseph Biden in the number two slot.

More than three-quarters of Pennsylvania voters (77%) say they are certain of the presidential candidate they intend to vote for, including 78% of Republicans and 86% of Democrats. But 23% say they may still change their minds before Election Day.

The economy is the most important issue in the election according to 46% of voters, but 25% say national security is more important. Obama is trusted more on the economy and jobs 52% to 39%. McCain is trusted more on national security and the war on terror by a 51% to 43% margin.

Voters trust Obama in general more 49% to 42% but are evenly divided on which candidate they would ask advice from if they were facing the toughest decision of their lives.

Additional state polls are released each day at 5 p.m. Eastern. The Rasmussen daily Presidential Tracking Poll is released each morning at 9:30 Eastern.

Governor Ed Rendell, a Democrat, is given good or excellent grades for his job performance by 39%, but 25% rate his performance as poor.

Thirty percent (30%) say President Bush is doing a good or excellent job, while 57% say his performance is poor.

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