Monday, October 20, 2008

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The latest Fox News/Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that 51% of North Carolina voters prefer Barack Obama while 48% favor John McCain.

No Democrat has won North Carolina in a presidential election since Jimmy Carter in 1976. But Obama has made it clear that he is competing hard for the state’s votes. Last week, the candidates were even in the Tar Heel State. Two weeks ago, Obama was up by a point, and the Democrat enjoyed a three-point edge three weeks ago.

In North Carolina, Obama is currently supported by 91% of liberal voters while McCain gets the vote from 81% of conservatives. McCain leads by just a single point among men but trails by six among women (see full demographic crosstabs).

McCain is viewed favorably by 57% of Tar Heel voters, Obama by 55%.

Fifty-four percent (54%) of North Carolina voters say that the economy is the most important issue of Election 2008. National security is seen as the top issue by 18%.

When it comes to the economy, 51% trust Obama more than McCain while 45% have the opposite view. McCain is trusted more on national security issues.

Overall, 63% say that McCain has the right experience to be president while 44% say the same about Obama.

However, a plurality (43%) believe Obama is the only candidate who can bring real change to Washington. Twenty-seven percent (27%) believe only McCain could bring the needed change. Fifteen percent (15%) of voters believe that either man could bring real change while 10% say that neither of them can.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).

The Tar Heel state is rated a “Toss-Up” 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 McCain a % chance of winning North Carolina’s 15 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.

Not surprisingly, the numbers in North Carolina reflect national trends. Obama has maintained a modest but steady lead in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll and in the Electoral College.

New polling on the presidential race also has been released today from Colorado, Virginia, Ohio, Florida and Missouri. See an overview of the latest Fox News/Rasmussen Reports polls and the latest Electoral College projections. A total of 270 Electoral Votes are needed to win the White House (see 50-State Summary).

Take a moment and predict how many Electoral College votes Barack Obama will win this year.

Recent statewide Presidential polls have been released for Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Demographic crosstabs for all state polling are available for Premium Members. Learn More.

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