Obama Pulls Ahead of McCain by 8 Points

Likely nominee now has majority of pledged delegates

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted May 21, 2008 8:12 AM CDT

Copied

Obama Pulls Ahead of McCain by 8 Points — Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., arrives for a rally in Des Monies, Iowa, Tuesday, May 20, 2008, with his wife michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia, second from left. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Barack Obama, who claimed a majority of pledged delegates last night after his win in the Oregon primary, has opened up an 8-point lead over John McCain in national polling, reports Reuters. Obama, who was tied with McCain in the Reuters/Zogby poll a month ago, also doubled, to 26 points, his lead over Hillary Clinton among Democrats. In a Clinton-McCain matchup, the two candidates are at level pegging.

Obama outpolled McCain 48% to 39% on the key issue of economic competence, which McCain led by 3 points last month. The Illinois senator also leads among independents and some demographics that he has struggled with in the primary: Catholics, Jews, union households, and the working class. McCain led among whites, NASCAR fans, and voters over 65.
(Read more Barack Obama stories.)