Obama, the Democratic senator from Illinois, and McCain, the Republican senator from Arizona, have edged toward more centrist positions on a range of other issues, including, immigration, faith-based social services, expanded government wiretapping and global warming, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

The newspaper said the consensus on many issues underscores an important dynamic in the political climate.

Politicians who take a pragmatic, middle-of-the-road approach are thriving. In both parties, the more ideological presidential candidates lost in the primaries.

John Isaacs, an arms control advocate, said the candidates' convergence on some issues is telling.

"It debunks the common view that Obama is the most liberal Democratic senator," Isaacs said. "And it debunks the view that McCain is really the third Bush term."

Still, the candidates have radically divergent views on a host of other issues, including the war in Iraq, healthcare, Social Security and Supreme Court nominations, among others.