Barack Obama and John McCain are essentially tied in the contest to win Wisconsin’s ten Electoral College votes in November. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds Obama attracting 44% of the vote while McCain picks up 43%. Eight percent (8%) say they would vote for some other candidate while 4% are not sure.

If Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee, McCain has a twelve point lead, 50% to 38%.

In a match-up with Obama, McCain leads by four points among men while trailing by five among women. Against Clinton, he holds a narrow lead among women and a twenty-two point advantage among men.

Among independent voters not affiliated with either major party, Obama leads McCain by eight while McCain leads Clinton by fourteen.

McCain is viewed favorably by 61% of the state’s voters, Obama by 58%, and Clinton by 45%. Among unaffiliated voters, Obama is viewed favorably by 60%, McCain by 59%, and Clinton by 43%.

Thirty-eight percent (38%) name the economy as the top issue for Election 2008. Fourteen percent (14%) name national security and 13% say the War in Iraq is the top priority.

Obama leads McCain by twelve points among voters who name the economy as the top issue. He leads by twenty-two among those who consider the War in Iraq as the most important. However, among those who name national security as the highest priority, McCain has a 76% to 19% advantage.

Clinton trails McCain by thirteen among those who name the economy as the top issue, leads McCain by thirteen among those who consider the War in Iraq as the top issue, and does worse than Obama among those who view National Security as the key issue.

As of today, Wisconsin is shifting from Likely Democrat to Leans Democrat in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator. This Calculator provides a daily update of Electoral College projections by aggregating data from a variety of sources including the latest Rasmussen Reports poll in a state, an average of the latest polling from other firms, Rasmussen Markets data, Intrade market data, analyst ratings and more.

Rasmussen Markets data just prior to the release of this poll showed that Democrats are favored to carry Wisconsin in the general election (current prices: Democrat % Republican %). Overall, among Democrats, the Markets give Obama a % chance to win the nomination while expectations for a Clinton victory are at %. Numbers in this paragraph are from a prediction market, not a poll. Using a trading format where traders "buy and sell" candidates, issues, and news features, the Rasmussen Markets harness competitive passions to provide a reliable leading indicator of upcoming events. We invite you to participate in the Rasmussen Markets. It costs nothing to join and add your voice to the collective wisdom of the market.

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