Obama now leading in 3 battleground states

Via: Quinnipiac University

With strong support from women, blacks and younger voters, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the apparent Democratic presidential contender, leads Arizona Sen. John McCain, expected to be the Republican candidate, among likely voters in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to simultaneous Quinnipiac University Swing State polls released today.

This is the first time Sen. Obama has led in all three states. No one has been elected President since 1960 without taking two of these three largest swing states in the Electoral College. Results from the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University polls show:

• Florida: Obama edges McCain 47 - 43 percent;
• Ohio: Obama tops McCain 48 - 42 percent;
• Pennsylvania: Obama leads McCain 52 - 40 percent.

Obama has large lead in Ohio

Via: Public Policy Polling - Hat Tip: Robert Rouse at Left of Centrist

Raleigh, N.C. June 16,2008 – Barack Obama kicks off the general election with a 50-39 lead over John McCain in Ohio, according to the newest survey from Public Policy Polling.
It’s a significant change from PPP’s most recent previous Ohio survey, conducted in
March, which found Obama trailing McCain 49-41 during the heart of the Jeremiah
Wright controversy.

Obama leads by equal margins among men and women, and has a four point lead with white voters while also holding a dominant 75-21 advantage with African Americans. The survey also found that Hillary Clinton could help him if she was on the ticket in Ohio. 19% of respondents said they would be more likely to vote for Obama if he was her VP choice, while 15% said they would be less likely to support him.

“Barack Obama appears to be enjoying a strong unity bounce in Ohio,” said Dean
Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “He begins the general election campaign in a strong position in the state, and Ohio is one place where putting Senator Clinton on the ticket seems likely to give him a boost.”

Results from the earlier March survey showed quite a different outcome in the Buckeye State:

Raleigh, N.C. March 19, 2008 – In possible general election match ups in Ohio Hillary Clinton shows a slight lead over John McCain while McCain has a larger advantage over Barack Obama, according to the newest survey from Public Policy Polling. Clinton leads McCain 45-44 in the state, while McCain has a 49-41 advantage over Obama.