Poll: Obama's inexperience hurts him

WASHINGTON, June 23 (UPI) -- U.S. voters are concerned about likely Democratic candidate Barack Obama's experience and ability to handle the job of president, a poll indicates.

Fifty-four percent of those surveyed in the Gallup/USA Today poll released Monday expressed concern about the Illinois senator's experience to be effective. A similar number said Obama "may be too closely aligned with people who hold radical political views."

The nationwide poll, however, indicated Obama has a 6 percentage point advantage -- 50 percent to 44 percent -- over presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

Among registered voters, Obama leads McCain 48 percent to 42 percent, the poll indicated.

"Obama is the favorite because of the conditions that are prevailing, but he's not a heavy favorite because of his personal liabilities," Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, told USA Today.

McCain must stress Obama's inexperience, Sabato said, adding, "He has to convince people that he is too great a risk despite their desire for change."

The poll surveyed 1,625 adults June 15-19. Its margin of error is 3 percentage points.