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Obama ahead in four key states as voters fret over the economy

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-24 09:00

WASHINGTON  - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is ahead in four battleground states, according to a Quinnipiac University poll out Tuesday that suggested Obama could be benefiting from turmoil on Wall Street.

US Democratic presidential candidate Illinois Senator Barack Obama, seen here with supporters in Wisconsin on September 22, 2008, is ahead in four battleground states, according to a Quinnipiac University poll out Tuesday that suggested Obama could be benefiting from turmoil on Wall Street. [Agencies]

Republican White House rival John McCain has not been able to wrestle the banner of change from Obama, and voters in three of the four states see Obama as better on economic issues, the polls showed.

"With a lousy economy, an unpopular war and an even less popular Republican president, it's difficult to find voters who don't want change," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac's University's Polling Institute.

Related readings:  CNN Poll: Americans rate Obama over McCain on economy  Obama calls bailout a 'blank check'

In Colorado, Obama leads McCain by 49 to 45 percent. Last month, McCain was ahead one percentage point in Colorado, 47-46 percent, Quinnipiac said.

In Michigan, Obama leads McCain 48 to 44 percent, compared to 46-42 percent on July 24.

In Minnesota, Obama is holding on to a two percentage point lead of 47 to 45 percent, compared to 46 to 44 percent in late July.

In Wisconsin, Obama leads by 49 to 42 percent, although his advantage has narrowed from 50 to 39 percent in July.

"The Wall Street meltdown while these polls were in the field probably fed the public desire for change and seemed to benefit Senator Obama," Brown said.

Obama is widely perceived as the candidate of change in the four key states, by 19 to 24 point margins, Quinnipiac said.

Voters in all four states named the economy as the top issue in the November 4 election and said Obama has a better handle on it, except in Minnesota where voters were equally divided on which candidate best understands the economy (45 to 45 percent).

By contrast, voters were convinced McCain has a better grasp on foreign policy, by margins of 34 percent and higher in all four states.

Voters in the four states view the running mates -- Delaware Senator Joe Biden for the Democrats and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin for the Republicans -- as good choices.

But they would rather see Biden as president, by margins of four to nine percent.

Quinnipiac questioned 1,301 likely voters in Minnesota between September 14-21; 1,313 in Wisconsin; 1,364 in Michigan; and 1,418 in Colorado. The polls had a 2.7 margin of error except Colorado, where the margin of error was 2.6 percent.

The polls were conducted in partnership with The Wall Street Journal and washingtonpost.com, the university said.