Presidential Race Narrows Slightly With One Week Until Election - Among Likely Voters, Obama 48%, McCain 42%

Washington, DC - A new Ipsos/McClatchy poll of likely voters indicates that Barack Obama maintains his lead over John McCain - 48% for Obama/Biden and 42% for McCain/Palin.

These figures among likely voters show a slight narrowing of the race, but are consistent with last week's Ipsos/McClatchy poll among likely voters: Obama 48% and McCain 42%.

Candidate Commitment Remains Solid...

Commitment to vote for the candidates on November 4th remains high among likely voters. Among Obama supporters, 93% report they will definitely vote for him; among McCain supporters, 91% state they will definitely vote for him.

Pocketbook Concerns Still Top Campaign Issue

Likely voters continue to focus their attention on traditional pocketbook issues. Forty-two percent (42%) of likely voters now see jobs and the economy as the single-most important issue of the campaign; more than six in ten likely voters (64%) rate jobs and the economy as one of the top two issues in the election campaign.

McCain Gains on the Economy...

In the most recent Ipsos/McClatchy poll, McCain has gained ground on the economy (from 38% stronger to 43% stronger); however, a majority of likely voters still see Obama as stronger than McCain on the Economy (50% versus 43%) -- a 7-point lead on the main issue of the campaign, with one week remaining. McCain also sees gains on healthcare in the most recent Ipsos/McClatchy poll (moving from 32% stronger to 37% stronger). Despite these gains, likely voters see Obama as stronger on healthcare (Obama 53%, McCain 37%). McCain still holds a lead on national security (53% versus 41% for Obama).

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted October 23-27. For the survey, a nationally representative, randomly selected sample of exactly 1,138 adults aged 18 and older across the United States was interviewed by Ipsos. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate within 177 2.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population in the U.S. been polled. Likely voters are defined as individuals currently registered to vote, who voted in the 2004 Presidential election, are a 7-10 on a 10-point likelihood to vote scale, and are interested in following news about the campaign `a great deal' or `quite a bit.' Individuals who did not vote in the 2004 Presidential election qualify as likely voters if they are registered to vote, are an 8-10 on a 10-point likelihood to vote scale, and are interested in following news about the campaign `a great deal' or `quite a bit.' Those individuals who have already cast their vote through early voting or an absentee ballot automatically qualify as likely voters. We interviewed 831 likely voters. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate within 177 3.4 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population in the U.S. been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error. These data were weighted to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the actual U.S. population according to U.S. Census figures. Interviews were conducted with respondents on land-line telephones and cellular phones. Respondents had the option to be interviewed in English or Spanish.

For more information on this news release, please contact: Clifford Young, PhD Senior Vice President Ipsos Public Affairs (312) 375-3328 [email protected]

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