Barack Obama has regained his solid lead over John McCain in Washington, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the state. The Democrat now leads his opponent 53% to 43%.

The race now resembles that of previous surveys before McCain managed to close the gap early last month following his surprise naming of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Support for the Democrat this month ties his previous high reached back in June.

Washington has cast its 11 Electoral College votes for Democratic candidates in each of the last five elections. In 2004, John Kerry took the state by a 53% to 46% margin.

Though both candidates draw heavy support from their own parties in Washington, unaffiliated voters are still fairly evenly divided. Obama has a 48% to 44% advantage over McCain among those voters. Obama also leads 51% to 45% among men and 54% to 40% among women in the state ( Premium Members can view full demographic crosstabs).

McCain is viewed favorably by 56% of Washington voters and unfavorably by 43%. Obama’s ratings are 59% favorable, 39% unfavorable.

The gubernatorial race rematch between incumbent Democrat Christine Gregoire and GOP challenger Dino Rossi is now a tie.

Washington voters hold the vice presidential nominees in a less flattering light than their running mates. Joseph Biden earns favorable opinions from 54% and unfavorable opinions from 39%. Palin is viewed favorably by 46% and unfavorably by 51%.

When it comes to the struggling economy, Washington voters trust Obama more than McCain to handle the issue by a 50% to 41% margin. Most voters (54%) say creating economic growth is the more important policy goal, while 34% say that of reducing the gap between rich and poor. Voters overwhelmingly believe McCain sees economic growth as more important, while the majority also believes Obama’s top economic goal is reducing the income gap.

Just nine percent (9%) of voters in Washington give the current U.S. economy good or excellent ratings, while 56% rate it as poor. Most (83%) believe the economy is getting worse, while only five percent (5%) think it's getting better.

The candidates are nearly even on the issue of national security, an issue McCain generally holds the advantage on nationwide. In Washington, voters trust Obama slightly more by a 48% to 46% margin.

Nationally, Obama has managed to hold a steady lead over McCain over the past week in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll. LINK

President Bush earns good or excellent ratings from 29% of voters in Washington, while 55% rate his job performance as poor.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available to Premium Members only.