Raleigh, N.C. — Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama are in a dead heat in the presidential race in North Carolina, according to a new WRAL News poll.

A survey of 500 likely voters Tuesday by polling firm Rasmussen Reports shows McCain has 45 percent of the vote and Obama has 43 percent. The margin of error for the poll is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.

The results are similar to a WRAL News poll released days after the state's May 6 primary, when McCain topped Obama by a 48 to 45 percent margin.

McCain got his his strongest support in the latest poll from voters age 50 or older, while Obama leads among younger voters, according to the poll. McCain also leads among married and wealthier voters, as well as those who say they regularly attend church.

There was no gender gap in the poll – McCain led by the same 45-43 margin among both men and women – but a breakdown according to the race of voters wasn't conducted.

Both candidates have favorable impressions among voters, with 55 percent saying they have a "very favorable" or "somewhat favorable" view of McCain and 49 percent hold similar views of Obama.

The majority of voters polled said the most important goal in Iraq is to bring U.S. troops home, while 40 percent said the U.S. should try to win the war. Obama has pledged to pull troops out of Iraq and end the war if elected, while McCain said troops should remain in Iraq as long as needed to stabilize the country.

Most of those surveyed also said they believe the government is more responsive to special interest groups instead of the general public. Seventy-one percent said the government doesn't represent the will of the people, compared with 67 percent who said government has become a special interest group.