Sen. John McCain pulled five points ahead of Barack Obama today, reinforcing a post-RNC bounce felt over the weekend, according to one poll.
Today’s daily Gallup poll put McCain at 49 percent and Obama at 44 percent, while their weekend poll put McCain at 50 percent and Obama at 46 percent.
The daily poll results were based on interviewing done Friday through Sunday, after the RNC concluded Thursday. McCain was at 43 percent before the RNC, meaning the GOP party gave him a six-point boost overall.
Meanwhile, a CNN/Time poll also released today had McCain and Obama tied at 48 percent. These results reflected little RNC bump, as CNN/Time had McCain at 49 percent before the RNC.
A Washington Post/ABC poll head Obama leading McCain 47 to 46 percent.
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The latest results are significant, one pollster said, because “Obama has led McCain for most of the campaign and for nearly all of the time since clinching the Democratic nomination in early June.”
Another survey also gave McCain a significant lift in the wake of the GOP convention, which got off to a slow start because of Hurricane Gustav’s effect on Gulf Coast states.
Rasmussen’s daily tracking poll – which had Obama up by 5 points before the GOP’s big party – now finds the candidates tied at 46 percent.
And they remain tied at 48 percent when taking into account likely voters who are undecided but leaning toward one candidate, the survey found.
The research showed that 42 percent of voters believe the economy is the most important issue this year.
Obama holds a 34-point lead among those voters.
Another 24 percent of voters view national security as the most important issue.
McCain dominates in that group by 39 points.
Meanwhile, the latest Zogby Poll has McCain leading Obama, 50 percent to 46 percent.
“Clearly, Palin is helping the McCain ticket,” according to pollster John Zogby.
He cited her support among men, conservatives and suburban and rural voters.
But he noted, “on the other hand, Palin is not helping with likely voting women who are not aligned with either political party.”
McCain has pulled ahead among Catholics by “double digits,” Zogby said.