McCain edges past Obama in new poll

Published: August 21, 2008

WASHINGTON- Republican John McCain swung into lead against Democrat Barack Obama in the U.S. presidential race as he is considered a stronger manager of the economy, according to a new Reuters/Zogby poll released Wednesday.
McCain leads Obama among likely U.S. voters by 46 percent to 41 percent, wiping out Obama's solid 7-point advantage in July and taking his first lead in the monthly Reuters/Zogby poll.
The sharp turn around ahead of the November election follows a month of attacks by McCain, who has questioned Obama's experience, criticized his opposition to most new offshore oil drilling and mocked his overseas trip.
Meanwhile, The Quinnipiac University survey also found McCain gaining on his Democratic rival in the national race, in which he now trails by 47 percent to 42 percent overall, ahead of party nominating conventions next week and the week after.
McCain had been down 50 to 41 percent nationally in the same independent organization's poll in July.
The Reuters/Zogby poll poll was taken Thursday through Saturday as Obama wrapped up a weeklong vacation in Hawaii that ceded the political spotlight to McCain, who seized on Russia's invasion of Georgia to emphasize his foreign policy views.
"There is no doubt the campaign to discredit Obama is paying off for McCain right now," pollster John Zogby said. "This is a significant ebb for Obama."
McCain now has a 9-point edge, 49 percent to 40 percent, over Obama on the critical question of who would be the best manager of the economy -- an issue nearly half of voters said was their top concern in the November 4 presidential election.

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