McCain Likely To Win In South Carolina, Poll Says

Columbia, SC (AHN) - Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has a strong lead among most voter groups in South Carolina, the Public Policy Polling said on Wednesday.

The presumptive Republican nominee leads Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) overall, 45 percent to 39 percent. Ten percent were undecided and 5 percent said they would vote for Libertarian candidate Bob Barr.

McCain has the edge among women, 45 percent to 43 percent, white, 60 percent to 24 percent, and voters who identified themselves as neither Democratic nor Republican, 38 percent to 32 percent. Except for young voters, he leads in all age groups particularly among seniors, 54 percent to 25 percent.

Obama, meanwhile, continues his hold on the black vote, with 77 percent, and voters between 18-29 years, 54 percent to 32 percent.

McCain's 10% support among African-Americans is significant. He also enjoys more support from voters from his own party than Obama, 82 percent to 78 percent.

"It would take an exceptional turnout from young voters and black voters, as well as a lot of disaffected conservatives voting for Bob Barr, to make a win in South Carolina possible for Barack Obama," Public Policy Polling President Dean Debnam said in a news release.

The results are based on interviews of 542 likely voters in the Palmetto State on July 9-11. Its margin of error is 4.2 percent.