US presumptive Democratic White House candidate Barack Obama is a point ahead of his rival John McCain in Republican tilted battleground States that supported President George W Bush by five percentage point over John Kerry in 2004, a just released poll shows.
The poll, conducted for National Public Radio, represents six per cent swing in favour of the Democrat, which is consistent with Obama's 3 point lead shown in the Wall Street Journal/NBC poll released Wednesday.
The poll in 19 battleground States shows that the race is close (46/45 per cent) but Obama seems to be holding all States Kerry held and has a 3-point lead in large number of States carried by Republican Bush.
Obama's lead, the poll found, is grounded on bringing the right kind of change, being on voters' side and restoring respect for America in the world. The two candidates are splitting independents, something Congressional Republicans failed to do in 2006.
In the media war, the respondents say they are getting more information from Obama, but on advertising, they are much more likely to have heard negative ads about Obama than about McCain.
Television remains the dominant source for information, but a quarter have visited candidates' website or been part of chain email. Among those under 40 years of age, 40 per cent have gotten information in this way.
The poll results reveal voter doubts about both candidates' presidential qualities that may explain why neither seems to be able to break through a kind of ceiling this summer.