McCain is leading Obama by a statistically insignificant 46 percent to 44 percent of likely voters with 3 percent for Ralph Nader, 1 percent for Libertarian Bob Barr and 6percent expressing no opinion or having another choice, according to an NPR News poll of 14 battleground states. The margin of error is 3.46 percent. In its August poll, Obama had led by 3 points.
Looking at the electorate from the perspective of cultural and consumer habits, voters who prefer Starbucks also prefer Obama, by 52 percent to 39 percent. Dunkin' Donuts voters back McCain 47 percent to 43 percent. Customers who shop frequently at Wal-Mart back McCain 58 percent to 33 percent. Wal-Mart women back McCain 58 percent to 34 percent. Sarah Palin individually does even better than that: she gets 63 percent to 23 percent support among them. However, women under 34 have an unfavorable view of Palin by a 48 percent to 36 percent margin.
McCain leads Obama among independents by 44 percent to 37 percent. That lead is built on a 56 percent to 35 percent advantage among independents over 50, while Obama leads 40 percent to 33 percent among younger independents.
Two-thirds of voters who said they backed Hillary Clinton in the primaries support Obama, but one-fifth says they will vote for McCain.
On attributes, McCain and Obama stack up this way:
- Strong leader: McCain 53, Obama 39.
- Out of touch: McCain 45, Obama 35.
- Will work across party lines: McCain 47, Obama 41
- Has what it takes to be President: McCain 46, Obama 43.
- Too risky: Obama 44, McCain 40
- Being on your side: Obama 49, McCain 42.
- Restoring respect for America in the world: Obama 51, McCain 43.
- Saying what people want to hear, not what he believes: Obama 49, McCain 40.
- Independent: Obama 46, McCain 37.
- Bringing the right kind of change: Obama 54, McCain 38.
- Better approach on Iraq: McCain 53, Obama 42.
- Better approach on Afghanistan: McCain 51, Obama 41.
- Better plan to handle energy crisis: McCain 44, Obama 42.
- Better approach on taxes: Obama 46, McCain 41.
- Better plan to handle energy crisis and reduc e gasoline prices: Obama 51, McCain 41.
- Too negative in his campaign: McCain 45, Obama 32.
- Flip-flopped on issues: Obama 39, McCain 39.
The states included in the poll were Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.
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