Obama stalls in voter preference polls

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Sen. Barack Obama has hit a wall in U.S. public opinion, unable to make significant gains among different voting segments, national polls indicate.

What is remarkable, pollsters told Politico, is the stability of the race between Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, and his likely Republican challenger, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

On Monday, the RealClearPolitics average of national polling had 46.6 percent of the public supporting Obama, giving him a narrow edge over McCain. Two months ago, RealClearPolitics found Obama with exactly the exact same level of support -- 46.6 percent.

Obama has maintained a lead over McCain since capturing enough Democratic delegates to earn the party nomination at the Denver convention, the Washington political Web site said. Yet, when polling results show high dissatisfaction with President George Bush and the economy, Obama hasn't crossed the 50 percent mark in voter preference.

"What's remarkable this summer is the stability of this race," Gallup's Frank Newport told Politico. "In a broad sense, it is similar to previous elections."

Obama has good numbers among Hispanics, blacks and youth. However, he has failed to make inroads with white voters so far, Politico said Wednesday.

"If everything is so good for Barack Obama, why isn't everything so good for Barack Obama?" ABC News polling director Gary Langer said.