Poll: Obama better to handle taxes

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- U.S. voters say Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is better able to handle tax issues than Republican John McCain, a Gallup poll indicates.

The poll conducted late last week found that 50 percent of respondents said they believe Obama would do a better job of handling tax issues, compared to 44 percent who said McCain is better on tax issues.

"The most recent poll continues to reflect a somewhat higher percentage of Americans believing that Obama would raise taxes compared to the percentage who believe this about McCain," Gallup said in its analysis.

In speeches, Obama has been emphasizing his pledge to cut taxes for "95 percent of working families," as McCain pledges to make permanent tax cuts enacted by President George W. Bush.

"The fact that Obama has an edge, though it is small, over McCain on taxes at this time may point to an American public that is ready for a change from the fiscal policy of the Bush years," Gallup said.

The poll of 1,010 adults has a maximum margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.