Men: Obama 48, McCain 36. Women: Obama 61, McCain 23. When �leaners� are factored in, Obama is ahead 54% to 38%. Obama has the support of 78% of the state�s Democrats, and McCain has the backing of a similar number of Republicans (79%). Unaffiliated voters favor McCain over Obama 45% to 36%.
Traditionally one of the bluest of blue states, Massachusetts has gone for only one Republican presidential candidate -- Ronald Reagan in 1984 -- in over 50 years. In 1972, it was the only state to cast its electoral votes for Democrat George McGovern.
Incumbent Senator John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, remains far ahead of his Republican challenger Jeff Beatty 56% to 29%. The poll sharply contrasts with a June 7NEWS/Suffolk University poll, which showed Obama with a 23-point lead, 53 percent to 30 percent.
"Barack Obama�s campaign has hit a soft patch this summer," said David Paleologos, director of the Political Research Center at Suffolk University in Boston. "With November just three months off, it still appears an Obama outcome in Massachusetts is not in question, but the margin certainly is." Shifting demographics
The biggest McCain gains came among Western Massachusetts voters, men, middle-aged voters, and independents.
"These were the four demographics that shifted the most. Obama held every other demographic category quite competitively." Last month, Obama led McCain 51% to 38%. The Democrat�s strong advantage in the state is no surprise to anyone; Ronald Reagan remains the only Republican presidential nominee win Massachusetts since 1956. In 1972, Massachusetts was the only state to cast its votes for George McGovern.
Obama is viewed favorably by 67% of Massachusetts voters, up from 61% last month. He is viewed unfavorably by 31% of voters.
McCain�s ratings are 57% favorable, up from 53% last month, and 40% unfavorable.
More than one-third of Massachusetts voters (36%) think Hillary Clinton should be Barack Obama�s running mate in the election. Nearly half (48%) disagree. Those numbers show voters in the Bay State are slightly more in favor of an Obama-Clinton ticket than voters nationwide.
While just over a quarter of voters (27%) think McCain is too old to be president, 36% of voters think Obama is too inexperienced for the job. Those numbers are a bit different from the national average, where a larger plurality of voters think Obama is too inexperienced. . . . . . . .
