Political Polls Show North Carolina at Odds with National Trends

While the Real Clear Politics average of several national polls shows Senator Obama leading Senator McCain 48.2% to 41.03%, the results in one key battleground state are quite different. North Carolina played a vital role in the presidential primary race as a landslide vote in favor of Senator Obama virtually eliminated any possibility of Senator Clinton winning the Democratic nomination for the office of President. Senator Obama charged to victory based on solid support of the state's Afro-American voters and voters from the liberal wing of the state's Democratic party.

As North Carolina proved an important primary state it will also be key battleground state in the general election. With 15 electoral votes the state is 9^th (tied with Georgia and New Jersey) in contributing to the most electoral votes. The only states with more electoral influence are California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois Michigan and Ohio. This makes the Presidential stake in the state very high.

With statewide polls of registered voters the inclusion of Republican and Independent voters indicate that the state cannot be taken for granted by either party or candidate. Senator Obama's impressive showing in the primaries may not carry over in the state as a whole. The most recent Rasmussen poll shows Senator McCain leads Senator Obama 45% to 43%. The Survey USA poll shows a wider margin for Senator McCain 51% to 43%. A Civitas Poll is somewhat in between the other two with McCain leading 45% to 41.%.

For the week ending June 13 the Real Clear Politics average of polls show Mccain leads in the state 46% to 41.8%.

In reading newspapers and watching Television news reports form across the state the issues most important to North Carolina voters include the economy/jobs, gasoline prices, illegal immigration, The Iraq War, healthcare availability and taxes.

The two candidates could not be more diverse on these issues.