McCain, Obama close race a surprise

WASHINGTON, July 3 (UPI) -- Republican political analysts say they are surprised that the U.S. presidential race is so close, given the handicaps facing their party.

John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, is burdened by an unpopular Republican president and an economy heading downhill. But many polls show McCain in a statistical tie with Democrat Barack Obama.

ABC News political correspondent George Stephanopolous, a veteran of the 1992 campaign of President Bill Clinton, said that many people in both parties think that Obama is 5 to 8 points ahead of McCain. The most recent Gallup poll gave Obama only a 2-point advantage.

The race has remained close since Sen. Hillary Clinton abandoned her campaign after the last primaries. This is in spite of turmoil in McCain's campaign staff.

Steve Schmidt, a veteran Republican operative, is now in charge of day-to-day operations, replacing Rick Davis. Davis is credited with rescuing McCain's campaign after it stalled early on.