Friday, September 19, 2008

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John McCain has pulled within four points of Barack Obama in Maine. That’s the closest he has been in any of the six monthly polls Rasmussen Reports has conducted in the state since April.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Maine voters finds Obama with 50% of the vote and McCain with 46% (demographic crosstabs available for Premium Members).

Last month, and in July, Obama was up by double digits.

Forty-six percent (46%) say the economy is the top issue of Election 2008 while 20% see national security as the highest priority.

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In Maine, McCain is now supported by 82% of Republicans and 22% of Democrats. The latter figure is up from 14% in August.

Obama earns the vote from 76% of Democrats and 12% of GOP voters. He holds a 10-point advantage among unaffiliated voters.

Obama’s ratings in Maine are 61% favorable, unchanged from a month ago. McCain is now viewed favorably by 56%, up three points from a month ago.

As for the running mates, 54% have a favorable opinion of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin while 48% say the same about Delaware Senator Joe Biden.

Fifty-two percent (52%) say John McCain made the right choice when adding Palin to his ticket. Thirty-three percent (33%) say Obama made the right choice by selecting Biden.

Seventy-nine percent (79%) say that Palin is politically conservative while 41% view Biden as politically liberal.

Maine has cast its four Electoral College votes for the Democratic candidate in the last four presidential elections. In 2004, John Kerry won the state over George W. Bush by nine percentage points. At the time the poll was released, the state was classified as “Likely Democratic” in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator. NOTE: Factors other than the latest Rasmussen Reports poll impact the Balance of Power ratings. The current status is indicated on the table in the upper right hand corner of this article.

Rasmussen Markets data gives Obama a % chance of winning Maine’s four Electoral College votes this fall. These results are updated on a 24/7 basis by market participants. It costs nothing to join, so add your voice to the collective wisdom.

Rasmussen Reports has released polls on the presidential race this week for Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Wisconsin, Utah and Delaware. Additional state poll results will be released throughout the weekend and first thing Monday morning. Next week, RasmussenReports.com also will release state polls Monday at 6:00 p.m. Eastern and Tuesday-Friday at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll is released each morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. Other polling is released at 7:00 a.m., Noon and 3:00 p.m. Eastern weekdays along with other updates as needed. Premium Members can review full demographic crosstabs for all state polls and get the first look at all Rasmussen Reports polling data. Learn More.

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