The first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of voters in the state shows McCain attracting 46% of the vote while Obama earns 42%. When �leaners� are included, it's McCain by six, 49% to 43%. Leaners are survey participants who initially indicate no preference for either major candidate but indicate that they are leaning towards either McCain or Obama. McCain is viewed favorably by 65% of Indiana voters, Obama by 52%.
Obama earns Very Favorable reviews from 28% while 27% have a Very Unfavorable opinion of him. For McCain, those numbers are 23% Very Favorable and 12% Very Unfavorable.
McCain leads by 12 among men, and the candidates are essentially even among women.
Forty-one percent (41%) of Indiana voters say the economy is the most important issue of Election 2008. Twenty-five percent (25%) name national security issues. Those figures are close to the national average.
Parts of northwestern Indiana are effectively suburbs of Chicago, Obama�s home base. During the Indiana Primary, strong turnout in this region almost enabled Obama to pull off an upset victory. Four years ago, John Kerry racked up a 23-percentage point margin over George Bush in Lake County, the state�s most northwestern county. On Eve of Obama Selection of Running Mate, McCain Takes Lead in Indiana Race for White House: In an election for President of the United States held today in Indiana, Republican John McCain defeats Democrat Barack Obama by 6 points, 50% to 44%, according to this latest SurveyUSA tracking poll conducted exclusively for WCPO-TV Cincinnati and WHAS-TV Louisville. Compared to an identical poll released eight weeks ago, Obama is down 3 points; McCain is up 3. Among those who regularly attend religious services, McCain leads by 28 points, up from 16 points eight weeks ago. Among those who occasionally attend, Obama leads by 14.
Among those who rarely attend, Obama leads by 23. The field period for this survey overlapped with the candidates' participation in Pastor Rick Warren's Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency, held in California 08/16/08. Among men, McCain leads by 12 points; among women, McCain and Obama tie. Eight weeks ago, Obama had led by 7 among women. Among voters younger than Barack Obama, the two candidates tie.
Among voters older than John McCain, McCain leads by 21 points; among voters who are in-between the two candidates' ages, McCain leads by 9. 12% of Republicans cross over to vote for Democrat Obama; 19% of Democrats cross over to vote for Republican McCain. Independents favor Obama by 12 points. Among those who have graduated from a 4-year college, McCain leads by 15 points; among those who have not, McCain and Obama tie. Among those with household incomes of less than $50,000, Obama leads by 11; among those with incomes above $50,000, McCain leads by 18. Men: Obama 32, McCain 48. Women: Obama 45, McCain 33.
