New poll finds Obama ahead or tied with McCain in GOP strongholds

Washington, Oct 30 : A new poll has reportedly found that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is leading or tied with his Republican rival John McCain in at least eight key states in which President George Bush (of Republican Party) had won in 2004 poll securing his second successive term.

The AP-GfK polls show Obama winning among early voters, favored on almost every issue, benefiting from the country's sour mood and widely viewed as the winning candidate by voters in eight crucial states - Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The poll shows that Obama is holding solid leads in Ohio (7 percentage points), Nevada (12 points), Colorado (9) and Virginia (7), all red states won by Bush that collectively offer 47 electoral votes. Sweeping those four - or putting together the right combination of two or three - would almost certainly make Obama president, it added.

It takes 270 electoral votes to win the White House. Obama can earn 252 by merely reclaiming states won by John Kerry in 2004. There are only two Kerry states still in contention - Pennsylvania with 21 votes and New Hampshire with four - and AP-GfK polls show Obama leading both by double digits.

Ohio alone has 20 electoral votes. Nevada has 5, Colorado 9 and Virginia 13.

According to the Daily News, the results explain why Obama is pressing his money and manpower advantages in a slew of traditionally GOP states, hoping not just for a win but to increase his victory margin.

On the other hand, McCain is scrambling to defend states where he wouldn't even be campaigning if the race were closer.

Despite a mounting chorus of Republicans predicting their nominee's demise, McCain aides insist their internal surveys show victory is still within reach.

ANI