Ohio Poll shows John McCain leads Barack Obama slightly in battleground state

As it was in 2004, Ohio with its trove of 20 electoral votes once again could prove to be a key to the outcome of the presidential race.

A University of Cincinnati poll shows John McCain leading Barack Obama 48%-44%. However, nearly a fourth of Ohio’s voters say they have not completely decided how they will vote.

Eric W. Rademacher, co-director of the Ohio Poll, noted that more Democrats than Republicans currently say they intend to cross party lines by voting for McCain. The poll shows that 11% of Democratic likely voters plan to vote for McCain, while 5% of likely Republican voters intend to vote for Obama.

“You cannot treat these choices as final vote choices,” Rademacher said, noting that many Democrats and Republicans who say they are considering crossing party lines typically will return to their nominee.

The poll of 775 likely voters was conducted from Sept. 5 to Sept.10, after both the Democratic and Republican conventions. There was a margin of sampling error of 3.5%

The poll, conducted after McCain picked Sarah Palin as his running mate, shows men were siding with McCain, 51%-41%, while women were narrowly backing Obama, 47%-45%. (See news video of McCain and Palin in Ohio below.)

Rademacher said Palin's selection is causing women to take a second look at McCain, but that it's too early to tell whether she'll draw female voters to the Republican ticket.

Voters ages 18-29 overwhelmingly backed Obama, 60%-33%. Voters 65 and older sided with McCain, 49%-40%.

In an Ohio Poll conducted in September four years ago, President Bush led John Kerry 54%-43%. Bush ended up winning the state by less than 120,000 votes out of 5.6 million cast.

--Dan Morain

Comments

[Adam]

I grew up on the Ohio River and know that Ohio will go to McCain. Skin color is all that matters to a majority of people in this state. California, Florida, and Ohio have the dumbest people in the country on average.

[johnny369]

This is Queer! I just read an article from an Ohio newspaper that states the oppsite. Obama is leading in Ohio by the same percentage shown here in favor of McCain?? WTF? who do you belive?

[Greg]

And this is the group that claims jobs and economics mean the most to them?

If McCain wins I want to be interviewed in Ohio during our recession or great depression.

If they love America, after that interview with Gibson you would think Obama and Biden is the answer.

But I guess Obama didn't inherit enough of his mothers skin tone and hair qualities. I'm telling you if Obama was white he would be a shoe in no matter his running mate and no matter mccains running mate.

[Adrienne]

If the voters of Ohio think that the McCain/Palin ticket is the way this country should go. Then they have obviously given up on the future. The statements that have been made by McCain and Palin (when they haven't been lying) have indicated that we will be at war, neither one seems to believe in diplomacy nor have they mentioned our Allies if we have any left. We have all these right wingers so concerned about what a women does with her body, and advocating birth no matter what the circumstance., but they do not want to put in place anything to help that child once it is born(i.e. healthcare, education, etc.) The Evangelicals look down on gays and abortion, but don't seem to mind if the Government is corrupt. The Republicans spin on everything is if we do it that's fine.

[brainspanker]

If he were white, this would be over.

All that talent, all that charisma and all that intelligence. If he were white, McCain would be bucking for a cabinet post at best. “JFK” would escape the lips of Americans without hesitation. If, he were a white Christian male, just as attractive with just as much presence, saying exactly the same things and landing precisely where he does on every single issue, next. If he were white. We’d be all but finished here.

There is more at: brainspank.org

[Bonduel]

Who said "race" wasn't an issue. Obama is the better choice and they know it.

[I don't get it]

How can so many people be undecided??

[Jake Maslow]

Of course McCain leads. He is the only candidate ready to lead this country.

In my opinion, the polls still don't show how much lead he actually has... These guys will be surprised when they see McCain will win in November by Landslide!

- Jake

[Cell Phone Only]

The fact that simply isn't addressed when quoting these polls is that there are many (hundreds of thousands?) of people out there now, specifically people under 40 who do not have a home phone. These polls do not reach these voters and therefore do not reflect a true cross section of the electorate.

[Thoren58]

It is still early, but Palin's views and values appear to be the same as Bush. I want change.

[Hilary Smith]

John McCain is a hothead. I don't want him anywhere near "the button."

[Bob Kaye]

When McCain leads by 4, it's a "slight" lead. When Obama is up by 4, it's a "commanding" lead. Nope, no bias there.

[Diana Sibel]

It is sad that this nation is still prejudice in the 21 century. We vote on religious believes,gender instead of issues.

[mark]

"If he were white, this would be over"

If he were white, this would not be on in the first place. Heard of affirmative action? Wonder which poor white bloke got shafted so that Bami with the right skin color got into his Ivy league school? If he were white, he would still be at best a new senator and at least a decade or more away from running for president. An affirmative action empty suit has been riding a mighty wave of white guilt. To be fair, he is charismatic. He may also be intelligent although having seen affirmative action at work first hand, I am not inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

[DTP]

A poll of 775 out of 5.6 million likely voters? Are you kidding me? Who did they poll, a bunch of grannys with wired phones that home all day?

That is less than .00013% of the voting population in Ohio.

This poll is statistically inaccurate and totally meaningless.

[adrian]

RE: Mark
Hurray for veiled racism! Oh wait.. you were really obvious about it.
Mr. Obama graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law School. It wasn't affirmative action that allowed his success.
And for the kids at home, contrast Mr. Obama's academic performance with that of Mr. McCain!
*Hint: Mr. McCain finished 895th out of 899 at Annapolis. But I guess since he's white, the professors just graded him more harshly, eh Mark?

[iH8uAll]

Educational background of candidates:
Barack Obama
-Occidental College - Two years.
-Columbia University - B.A. political science with a specialization in international relations.
- Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

Joe Biden
- University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in political science.
-Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

John McCain
-United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899

Sarah Palin
- Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
-North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
-University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
- Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
-University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism

As they must say in OHIO - "Stupid is, as stupid does".

Heck-- I have more education than Palin and I live near Mexico (international experience), so I should be VP!!! RAH!

[Irene]

Have these idiots in Ohio not learn their lesson after Bush's relection??!!

[Fair is Fair]

Lets only send Ohio service men and women to fight in Iraq. They are the people voting to continue the war.

[BJ]

There was a comment here that said: "If he were white this would be over".

I beg to differ, the truth is: IF he were Hillary Clinton, this WOULD be over!

Or, to be kinder, if he had chosen Hillary as his VP, this might be over.

But the reality is, there is buyer's remorse happening with Obama. And people are discovering how big his ego really is, and are turning off.

McCain/ Palin '08
Hillary 2012

[Margaret]

Barack Obama is miles ahead of McCain in terms of talent, charisma, his speaking skills, and his policies. He has inspired millions of americans to vote and to come together. McCain has not. He has followed in the awful footsteps of George Bush and is a complete sell-out. McCain's lack of judgement is best seen by the selection of his running mate who was not properly vetted and who he had only met once.

John McCain is McCrazy for his choice of running mate.

I just hope and pray that the american people can look at this election and think 'what's in it for me'. If you go with Obama you'll get a great economy, thousands upon thousands of dollars in tax breaks, and a REAL secure energy future.

With McCain you'll get more national debt (which George Bush has racked up to 9 trillion dollars!), the super-rich will get richer, and you'll see the cost of everything from a loaf of bread to the cost of gasoline continue to skyrocket. McCain will also do nothing about climate change, which as we can all see is about to once again cause significant challenges in the gulf coast. Basically, you might as well just keep George Bush in office for another four years.

I believe that the american people are much, much smarter than this, and that it's more about what the candidate is offering than the color of their skin. After all, think about it, who will protect the middle class? Obama, Who's policies and ideology will destroy the middle class and the american dream? McCain.

[Bill]

However this race cuts, the University of Cincinnati's "Ohio Poll" is one of the most historically accurate polling platforms for that state. Do not underestimate this poll...keep an eye on it as this race moves forward.

[Fernao de Magalhaes]

Greg:
I like this quote.
"If McCain wins I want to be interviewed in Ohio during our recession or great depression."

However, if you would have actually done your research into Obama's agenda if he were elected, you would see the US go into a huge depression.

It is many of the left wing/marxist policies that have taken a lot of the industry out of Ohio and Michigan. It doesn't take an MBA to research this and come to your own conclusion. Oh but wait, I have my MBA in International Business.

[Fernao de Magalhaes]

iH8uAll::
You're post is most amusing.
"Educational background of candidates:
Barack Obama
-Occidental College - Two years.
-Columbia University - B.A. political science with a specialization in international relations.
- Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

Joe Biden
- University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in political science.
-Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

John McCain
-United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899

Sarah Palin
- Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
-North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
-University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
- Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
-University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism

As they must say in OHIO - "Stupid is, as stupid does".

Heck-- I have more education than Palin and I live near Mexico (international experience), so I should be VP!!! RAH!"

However, have you noticed that no one is really probing into Obama's background regarding his work at Columbia University or at Harvard? It makes you wonder.

[willie]

Biden after 25+ years in upper government with very strong annual earnings from this job, Biden reports he has a net worth, so hiring a ticket he is on to run this country will NOT likely serve to be financially beneficial to us, since this man can not even keep his own financial affairs in order. MANY ARE PROUD THAT HE TAKES MASS TRANSIT TO WORK EACH DAY, YET I SEE THIS IN ANOTHER LIGHT, I DONT THINK ANY LENDER WOULD APPROVE A BORROWER WITH A NET WORTH TO PURCHASE A CAR. .... FOOD FOR THOUGHT !! BUYER BEWARE!