Obama beats McCain in 4 swing states

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Democrat Barack Obama has opened up leads of five to 17 points over Republican White House rival John McCain in four battleground states, according to Quinnipiac University surveys Thursday.

Obama is ahead in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin amid rising support from women, ethnic minorities and younger voters, said the Quinnipiac polls conducted with the Wall Street Journal and Washingtonpost.com.

In Colorado, which voted for President George W Bush in 2004 and 2000, Obama leads McCain by 49pc to 44pc for McCain.

In Michigan, whose auto industry is in dire straits and went Democratic the last two elections, Obama has 48pc to McCain's 42.