Wednesday, October 01, 2008

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John McCain holds a19-point lead over Barack Obama in Tennessee, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of voters in the state.

McCain, who has led by double digits in the Volunteer State for months, is now ahead of his Democratic rival 58% to 39%. Last month he led 56% to 32%. The closest Obama has even been is 15 points in June.

Ninety-five percent (95%) of Tennessee Republicans back the GOP candidate while Obama has the support of 86% of the state’s Democrats. Unaffiliated voters favor McCain by a solid margin.

McCain leads among men 61% to 36% and among women 55% to 41%. Ninety-eight percent (98%) of African-American voters support Obama, the first black presidential candidate of a major national party, versus 68% of whites who back McCain (see full demographic crosstabs).

Nationally, Obama has pulled ahead of McCain in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll – posted every morning at 9:30 Eastern -- after the race had remained close for weeks.

Sixty-five percent (65%) of Tennessee voters view McCain favorably, including 36% who say their view is Very Favorable. Thirty-four percent (34%) have an unfavorable view of the Republican.

Obama is regarded favorably by 42%, with 27% saying that opinion is Very Favorable. Fifty-seven percent (57%), however, regard him unfavorably.

Rasmussen Markets data gives Republicans a % chance of carrying Tennessee next month. The state has cast its 11 Electoral College votes for the Republican candidate in four out of the last six presidential elections and is rated as “Safely Republican” in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator.

Sixty percent (60%) of voters in the state view McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin, favorably, with 44% saying their opinion of her is Very Favorable. Thirty-seven percent (37%) have an unfavorable opinion of Palin, including 30% Very Unfavorable.

Obama’s running mate, Joseph Biden, has 45% favorables and 51% unfavorables. Twenty-two percent (22%) of Tennessee voters say their view of Biden is Very Favorable, while 35% have a Very Unfavorable opinion.

In Tennessee's Senate race, Republican incumbent Lamar Alexander, in his bid for a second term, is well ahead of his Democratic challenger Bob Tuke.

Forty-seven percent (47%) of Tennessee voters say the economy is the most important issue in the presidential campaign, but 24% say national security is most important.

Voters in the state trust McCain more than Obama on both the economy (55% to 38%) and national security (60% to 36%).

Fifty-nine percent (59%) describe themselves as investors, including 64% of likely McCain voters and 51% of those who plan to vote for Obama.

Sixty-five percent (65%) of Tennessee voters say creating economic growth is more important than reducing the gap between rich and poor, but 27% believe the opposite. Two-thirds (67%) say creating economic growth is more important to McCain, while 62% say reducing the gap between rich and poor is more important to Obama.

Just seven percent (7%) say the economy is good or excellent, compared to 59% who say it is poor. Eighty-five percent (85%) say economic conditions are getting worse.

Thirty-six percent (36%) believe President Bush is doing a good or excellent job, while 46% rate his performance as poor.

Rasmussen Reports and Fox News Channel jointly release a series of battleground state polls every Monday at 6 p.m. Eastern. See overview of all polling released this week with results from Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

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