The Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll also found that McCain's major weakness is the economy. About 32 percent of those surveyed said Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is best-equipped to handle the economic slump, followed by 26 percent for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and 23 percent for McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee. Voters who list the economy as their major concern were also far more likely to favor a Democrat.

Both Clinton and Obama lead McCain in one-to-one matches. Clinton led McCain 47 percent to 38 percent, with 11 percent undecided, while Obama led McCain 46 percent to 40 percent, with 9 percent undecided.

A Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg survey in February gave McCain a slight lead over either Democrat. Susan Pinkus, the poll director, said that the weaker economy probably accounts for the shift.

The poll interviewed 2,208 adults across the country, including 1,986 registered voters, during the first week in May.