New Poll Shows McCain Holding Slight Lead Over Obama

New poll numbers suggest John McCain is getting a bounce following the Republican convention. However, the race between McCain and Barack Obama remains close.

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McCain Leads Obama In 2 Polls, Race Even In 3 More
By The Associated Press

THE POLL: USA Today-Gallup, national presidential race among registered voters
THE NUMBERS: John McCain 50 percent, Barack Obama 46 percent
OF INTEREST: This poll shows McCain getting a substantial bounce after the Republican National Convention, overcoming a 7-percentage-point Obama lead before the convention began in St. Paul, Minn., last week. The addition of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to the Republican ticket led 29 percent of voters to say they were more likely to vote for McCain, while 21 percent said they were less likely.
DETAILS: Conducted Sept. 5-7 by landline and cellular telephone, included 959 registered voters. Sampling margin of error plus or minus 3 percentage points.
MORE: www.usatoday.com

THE POLL: Gallup Poll daily tracking results, national presidential race among registered voters
THE NUMBERS: John McCain 49 percent, Barack Obama 44 percent
OF INTEREST: This poll also shows a gain for McCain following his party's convention. The Republican's 5-point lead for the three days after the GOP gathering contrasts with a 6-point edge Obama had beforehand. Gallup interviews nearly 1,000 registered voters each day and combines the results for the three most recent days, separate from its polling for USA Today.
DETAILS: Conducted Sept. 5-7 by landline and cellular telephone, 2,733 registered voters. Sampling margin of error plus or minus 2 percentage points.
MORE: www.gallup.com

THE POLL: CNN-Opinion Research Corp., national presidential race among registered voters
THE NUMBERS: John McCain 48 percent, Barack Obama 48 percent
OF INTEREST: The two candidates were essentially tied just before the GOP convention, so this survey shows little change. However, McCain has made solid gains in public confidence in how he would handle many issues, including the economy, gas prices, Iraq and health care. He's also picked up support for being the contender who can bring needed change and shares peoples' values. Half still expect McCain to mostly follow President Bush's policies.
DETAILS: Conducted Sept. 5-7 by landline telephone, includes 942 registered voters. Sampling margin of error plus or minus 3 percentage points.
MORE: www.cnn.com/politics

THE POLL: ABC News-Washington Post, national presidential race among registered voters
THE NUMBERS: Barack Obama 47 percent, John McCain 46 percent
OF INTEREST: Obama's 6-percentage-point lead of Aug. 22 before both party conventions is virtually gone. White women have moved from backing Obama by 8 points to supporting McCain by 12 points, with majorities viewing GOP vice presidential pick Sarah Palin favorably and saying her choice boosts their faith in McCain's decisions. Obama's advantages for handling the economy and changing Washington have shrunk. McCain's supporters are growing in enthusiasm but still trail Obama's. The Democrat's scores for experience and defining the change he wants have changed little, as have the numbers of former Hillary Rodham Clinton supporters backing him.
DETAILS: Conducted Sept. 5-7 by landline telephone, includes 961 registered voters. Sampling margin of error plus or minus 3 percentage points.
MORE: www.abcnews.go.com/pollingunit; www.washingtonpost.com

THE POLL: CBS News, national presidential race among registered voters
THE NUMBERS: John McCain 46 percent, Barack Obama 44 percent
OF INTEREST: Obama led by 3 percentage points in this poll before both party conventions and by 8 points before the GOP gathering, a lead that has basically vanished. Eighty-five percent of McCain's backers are happy with Sarah Palin's selection as his running mate, helping explain a big jump in GOP enthusiasm. Democratic vice presidential pick Joe Biden is seen as far more prepared than Palin to be president, but more say they can relate to Palin, including nearly two-thirds of women. McCain has increased his lead over Obama in being prepared for the White House, though more can relate to Obama than McCain and more think Obama understands their problems.
DETAILS: Conducted Sept. 5-7 by telephone, includes 655 registered voters who'd been interviewed in a mid-August poll. Sampling margin of error plus or minus 4 percentage points.
MORE: www.cbsnews.com