McCain Gains Momentum In Swing States

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is gaining ground against Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) in four battleground states, a new poll said on Thursday. The Republican nominee-in-waiting leads Obama in Colorado, 46 percent to 44 percent. He overtook his rival, who was ahead, 49 percent to 44 percent, last month.

McCain trails in Michigan, 42 percent to 46 percent, but his deficit is smaller than the previous survey's 42 percent to 48 percent.

In Minnesota, the Arizona senator has also made gains, getting 44 percent support compared to Obama's 46 percent. June's numbers were 37 percent to 54 percent for the Democrat.

Obama is ahead in Wisconsin, 50 percent to 39 percent, but his lead against McCain has dropped two points.

"Sen. John McCain has inched ahead of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in Colorado; come within inches in Minnesota and narrowed the gap in Michigan and Wisconsin," Quinnipiac University said in a news release.

"One reason for McCain's progress may be the energy issue. The results show increased support for additional drilling - which McCain supports and Obama opposes. Roughly one in ten voters say they have changed their minds and now favor drilling because of the jump in energy prices," it added.

Quinnipiac University held four simultaneous polls among 1,425 likely Colorado voters, 1,684 likely Michigan voters, 1,261 likely Minnesota voters and 1,094 likely voters in Wisconsin on July 14-22. The margins of error are 2.6 percent, 2.4 percent, 2.8 percent and 3 percent, respectively.