Obama widens lead in key states amid financial turmoil

Source: Xinhua | 10-02-2008 09:45

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is widening his leading edge against Republican opponent John McCain in a number of key states, according to two polls released Wednesday.

U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama shakes hands with the audience during a rally at Veterans Memorial Park in Manchester, New Hampshire Sept. 13, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

A survey by Quinnipiac University shows Obama's approval rating passed the threshold of 50 percent in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Both Obama and McCain keep close eyes on the three states because no one has ever won the general election without winning two of the three states since 1960.

Peter Brown, director of the Quinnipiac survey, said economy is the biggest drag on McCain in the three states.

"The economic crisis has changed the dynamic that only three weeks ago favored McCain," he said.

Meanwhile, a CNN survey indicated that Obama is also gaining ground in other states which will help determine the results of this year's election.

In Minnesota, where the Republican convention was held a month ago, 54 percent of the respondents are backing Obama, and 43 percent support McCain -- a major jump over the 2-point advantage Obama held over McCain in last month's poll.

The Illinois senator appears to erase McCain's edge in Missouri, where 49 percent of those polled are backing Obama and 48 percent supporting McCain. One month ago, Obama was down five points to McCain in the last poll.

Obama also leads McCain 51 to 47 percent in Nevada and 53 to 44 percent in Virginia.

"At this point, the state polls are starting to reflect the same movement we've seen in the national polls over the last couple of weeks," said researcher Alan Silverleib.

"The economic crisis is reinforcing the country's desire for change, which is in turn helping the Democrats. If the current trends hold and McCain loses traditional red states like Florida and Virginia, it is hard to see how he can get to 270 electoral votes on Election Day," he said.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei