Poll Tracker

The Democratic Convention helped Barack Obama draw even with John McCain on the question of who voters saw as a strong and decisive leader, but now in the wake of the GOP convention, it's McCain's turn to reclaim the mantle, leading Obama by 52 percent to 41 percent in a USA Today/Gallup poll conducted Sept. 5-7.

Voters also favor McCain over Obama by between 4 and 7 points when it comes to working well in Washington with both parties to get things done, managing government effectively, putting the country's interests ahead of his own and being honest and trustworthy. Obama, as he consistently does, leads McCain on the criterion of "cares about people like you" where he has an 8 point advantage, and sharing "your values," where he has a smaller 4 point edge.