Poll: McCain gains in Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH, July 31 (UPI) -- Republican presidential candidate John McCain has gained support in Pennsylvania, a poll indicates.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Thursday that McCain has cut into Democrat Barack Obama's lead in the Keystone State.

The Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday indicates Obama leads in Pennsylvania 49 percent to 42 percent. Obama had a 12-point edge over McCain in the last poll June 18.

"One reason for Sen. McCain's narrowing the gap is partly energy policy, especially high gasoline prices," said Clay Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"McCain says he favors off-shore drilling to increase gas supply, a position backed by 60 percent of Pennsylvania voters, but opposed by Obama. And Pennsylvania voters now say, 56 to 35 (percent) that the energy policy is more important in the campaign than the Iraq war," Richards said.

The poll sample size and margin of error was not reported.