Poll: Low-income workers favor Obama

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Low-wage earners in the United States may favor Sen. Barack Obama over Sen. John McCain but are unconvinced either will fix the economy, a poll indicates.

The Washington Post poll released Monday indicates Obama, D-Ill., has a 2-to-1 edge over McCain, R-Ariz. Overwhelming support from African-Americans and Hispanics is one contributing factor but support among white workers showed Obama with a 10-percentage point lead over McCain, 47 percent to 37 percent, with 16 percent not choosing either likely major-party candidate.

The Post poll found a majority of all voting blocs surveyed indicated their personal finances likely wouldn't change no matter who won in November.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents said lowering gas prices was a top priority. Seven in 10 respondents said government should focus on improving the healthcare system, while slightly more than four in 10 favored tax cuts or jobs creations through public works projects, results indicated.

Results are based on telephone interviews June 18-July 7 of 1,350 people who work least 30 hours a week and earned no more than $27,000 last year. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.