Poll: Drop in presidential swing voters

PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 4 (UPI) -- A Gallup poll released Thursday indicates the percentage of "swing" voters in the U.S. presidential election has declined from 30 percent to 21 percent.

Of previously uncommitted voters interviewed for the poll, 42 percent said they now are certain to vote for Democratic Party nominee Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, up from 36 percent just before that party's national convention in Denver last month, USA Today reported.

Thirty-seven percent of those polled said they now are committed to presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona, up from 34 percent.

Gallup credits the sharp drop in uncommitted voters to two events -- the Democratic National Convention and McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, USA Today reported.

Each of those events had the potential to assuage concerns about Obama's readiness to lead and McCain's commitment to GOP principles, USA Today reported.

The poll conducted Aug. 30-31 was based on telephone interviews with 1,835 registered voters and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.