Obama leads McCain in four battleground states

A new Quinnipiac/Wall Street Journal/Washingtonpost.com poll finds that Obama leads McCain in four key battlegrounds states.

COLORADO: Obama 49 - McCain 44
MICHIGAN: Obama 48 - McCain 42
MINNESOTA: Obama 54 - McCain 37
WISCONSIN: Obama 52 - McCain 39

The Press release reports:

An emerging Democratic coalition of women, minorities and younger voters is propelling Illinois Sen. Barack Obama to leads of five to 17 percentage points over Arizona Sen. John McCain among likely voters in the battleground states of Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to four simultaneous Quinnipiac University polls, conducted in partnership with The Wall Street Journal and washingtonpost.com and released today.

Sen. McCain’s lead among white voters in Colorado and Michigan cuts the gap to single digits, but doesn’t offset Sen. Obama’s strength among other groups. The Democrat also leads by eight to 21 percentage points among independent voters in each state. Overall results show:

Colorado: Obama leads McCain 49 – 44 percent, including 51 – 39 percent among independent voters;
Michigan: Obama tops McCain 48 – 42 percent, with 46 – 38 percent among independents;
Minnesota: Obama buries McCain 54 – 37 percent, and 54 – 33 percent with independents;
Wisconsin: Obama leads McCain 52 – 39 percent, and 50 – 37 percent with independents.

Wisconsin women likely voters back Obama 53 – 37 percent while men back the Democrat 51 – 40 percent. White voters back Obama 49 – 42 percent. He leads 61 – 35 percent among voters 18 to 34 years old, 52 – 39 percent among voters 35 to 54 years old and 47 – 41 percent among voters over 55.

Obama’s favorability is 54 – 27 percent, with 48 – 30 percent for McCain.
McCain’s age won’t affect their vote, 77 percent say, while 20 percent are less likely to vote for him because of his age. Obama’s race doesn’t matter, 91 percent say.

The economy is the most important issue in their vote, 47 percent of Wisconsin voters say, while 20 percent cite the war in Iraq and 14 percent list health care.

The entire report is linked.