Poll: N.C. tipping back into red
Republicans John McCain and Pat McCrory are edging ahead of their Democratic rivals among North Carolina voters, according to a new WRAL News poll.
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Polling firm Rasmussen Reports surveyed 700 likely voters statewide on Thursday and found North Carolina trending toward its Republican tradition. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
McCain erased the lead Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama held in recent WRAL News polls and now hold a 50 to 48 percent lead in the latest poll.
McCain holds a 17-point lead among independents statewide, according to the poll. He also leads among male voters by a 59 to 39 percent margin, compared with Obama's 55 to 43 percent lead among women.
The economy remains the top concern among North Carolina voters – 43 percent of respondents listed it as the issue most likely to influence them at the polls – and the majority of those surveyed said McCain was better equipped to handle economic issues.
In the gubernatorial race, McCrory leads Democratic candidate Beverly Perdue by 51 to 47 percent, according to the poll.
McCrory holds a 20-point lead among male voters, compared with Perdue's 8-point margin among women. He also is backed by almost one-fifth of Democratic voters and a majority of independents, according to the poll.
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