Poll: Obama, McCain tied in Ohio

RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Likely U.S. presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain are running neck-and-neck in Ohio, a poll indicates.

Obama, the junior Democratic senator from Illinois, had led in the Public Policy Polling survey in June and July. Now, Obama and McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, each have 45 percent support in the state, with 10 percent of voters undecided.

The poll shows McCain leads 89 percent to 7 percent among Republicans, while Obama leads 75 percent to 17 percent among Democrats.

Obama has 45 percent support among independents, compared to 28 percent supporting McCain.

"Ohio is one state, along with Pennsylvania and Michigan, where Barack Obama would probably be well served by some joint appearances with the Clintons," said Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling. "Democrats have a party ID advantage in Ohio but that won't do much for them unless the voters in their party actually vote for their nominee."

The poll of 950 likely voters was conducted Aug. 12 to Aug. 14. The survey's margin of error is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.