Obama leads McCain in latest poll

WASHINGTON - Solid margins among women, minorities and young voters have powered Barack Obama to a six percentage point lead over John McCain in the presidential race, according to a poll released yesterday.

Obama is ahead of his Republican rival 47 per cent to 41 per cent, The Associated Press-Ipsos poll showed. The survey was taken after the Democratic senator from Illinois had returned from a trip to Middle Eastern and European capitals, and during a week that saw the two camps clash over which had brought race into a campaign in which Obama is striving to become the first black president.

McCain, the senator from Arizona, is leading by 10 points among whites and is even with Obama among men, groups with whom Republicans traditionally do well in national elections. Obama leads by 13 points among women, by 30 points among voters up to age 34, and by 55 points among blacks, Hispanics and other minorities, the poll shows. Independent Ralph Nader and Libertarian Bob Barr both won support from less than five per cent of the registered voters surveyed.

When people were asked who they would support if Nader and Barr were not on the ballot, Obama’s lead over McCain was virtually unchanged. The poll showed a huge Democratic advantage when voters ponder which party they would like to see control Congress next year. Democrats were favored over Republicans 53 per cent to 35 per cent, underscoring the mountainous disadvantage McCain and other GOP candidates are facing in the November 4 voting.

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton will hit the campaign trail for former presidential rival Barack Obama this month, making her first solo appearance on his behalf since he won their bruising Democratic nominating battle in June. Mrs Clinton will host campaign rallies and voter registration events in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Friday and in south Florida on August 21, the Obama campaign said on Tuesday.