Here are the latest results from the Michigan poll by Detroit Free Press Selzer published on USAElectionPolls.com:
There were 600 voters polled on 8/17-20.
| Detroit Free Press Selzer Date: 8/17-20 Michigan Added: 8/22/08 |
|
| Barack Obama | 46% |
| John McCain | 39% |
| Bob Barr | 3% |
| Ralph Nader | 3% |
Quote:
The numbers could move. Nearly one-third -- 31% -- of those polled said they could be persuaded to change their minds by Election Day Nov. 4.Perhaps most striking is Obama's 17-point edge among independent voters -- a bloc McCain has cultivated since he first ran for president in 2000. Most experts say independents will decide this year's race because both candidates have strong support from core voters in their respective parties.
The poll shows the economy is by far the most important issue to voters -- 50% ranked it tops -- followed distantly by the war in Iraq, gas and oil prices and health care. And the poll showed Michiganders think Obama is slightly better equipped to help solve economic issues that have wrought havoc in Michigan.
Social issues such as abortion and gay marriage were top issues for only 10% of those polled.
This is the first Free Press/Local 4 Michigan Poll on the presidential race since the candidates became the presumptive nominees. It was conducted Sunday through Wednesday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. It also shows:
* Obama leads 80%-13% among Detroit voters.
* Obama leads 45%-41% among voters in suburban Oakland and Macomb counties.
* McCain leads among white voters statewide, 46%-38%.
* Obama gets 92% of African Americans.
* McCain holds a 13-point lead among Catholic voters; Protestants are evenly split, although evangelicals favor McCain by 2-1.
* Among non-Christians, Obama leads 66%-13%.
* Third-party candidates Bob Barr and Ralph Nader have a negligible impact on the race, if anything hurting McCain more than Obama.
* Among first-time voters, Obama has a 2-1 edge.
Source: Current Polls, Electoral College Results
