Poll: Age key demographic in campaign

PRINCETON, N.J., June 18 (UPI) -- U.S. voters in their 40s may be the key segment in the presidential race between presumptive nominees Barack Obama and John McCain, a Gallup poll indicates.

McCain and Obama were tied at 46 percent in support among voters between ages 40-49, the Gallup Poll Daily released Wednesday indicated. Voting preferences in this group could play a big role in the election because of Obama's appeal to younger voters and McCain's support among older voters, pollsters said.

Obama led McCain, 47 percent to 42 percent, in the entire sample, the Princeton, N.J., firm said. Data were collected June 5-16 from phone interviews of nearly 10,000 registered voters, including 1,637 in their 40s.

Senator Obama, D-Ill., held a 47 percent-to-43 percent lead over Senator McCain, R-Ariz, among voters in their 50s, the poll indicated.

Obama had a 59 percent-to-32 percent lead over McCain among voters not yet 30 and a 51 percent-to-38 percent advantage among voters in their 30s.

McCain's highest support was with voters ages 60 to 69, who favored him 48 percent to 38 percent over Obama.

The overall sampling error is 1 percentage point. Sampling results for ages 40-49 have a margin of error of 3 points.