WASHINGTON (AFP) — The financial turmoil that has rocked global markets appears to be benefiting US presidential hopeful Barack Obama, according to a new poll released Monday that finds the Democratic candidate pulling ahead of his Republican opponent John McCain with a 51 percent to 46 percent lead.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll also finds that by a two-to-one margin Americans blame Republicans for the current financial crisis.
Forty-seven percent of registered voters say Republicans are more responsible for the state of the economy, compared to 24 percent of registered voters who say Democrats are more responsible.
Obama's five-point lead over McCain stands in contrast to the previous CNN/Opinion Research survey that had the candidates tied at 48 percent each, although Obama's advantage lies within the poll's sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.
The survey also indicates that more Americans think Obama would better handle the economy. The democratic candidate holds a 10-point lead over McCain.
Obama made gains among key constituencies that were once seen as part of McCain's base: men and seniors.
CNN's poll of polls, which combines numerous local and national polling data, found that 49 percent of registered voters favor Obama, compared with 44 percent for McCain.
"The economy has always been considered John McCain's Achilles' heel, and the CNN poll of polls started to show an Obama edge in the middle of last week -- just as the financial crisis began to hit home for many Americans," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.
The survey also indicates that one of Obama's main campaign messages -- that McCain represents "more of the same" policies of the incumbent Bush administration -- is registering with voters.
Fifty-seven percent of Americans contacted for the survey think McCain, if elected, will "mostly carry out the policies" of President George W. Bush, up three percentage points from the previous poll.
The poll also suggests Obama has recaptured the mantle of "change," a campaign slogan for the Obama camp for over two years, adopted by McCain in the weeks since adding Alaska governor Sarah Palin to the GOP ticket in early September.
Obama holds a 14 point lead over McCain when voters consider which candidate would be more likely to bring change to the White House.
The survey finds that 35 percent of those questioned have an unfavorable opinion of Palin -- an eight point jump from the last CNN poll.
"Change has always been Obama's strong suit, but McCain and Palin clearly made inroads into that issue during the GOP convention," said Holland.
"Palin, in particular, was seen as an agent of change when she made her first appearance on the national stage. That may be changing now."
The poll results come out four days before Obama and McCain meet in Oxford, Mississippi for the first of three presidential debates.
Strong viewing figures are expected for the debates, after nearly 40 million Americans tuned in for both the Democrat and Republican convention speeches.
The poll suggests the debates could be critical for swaying opinions, with 14 percent of voters saying they have yet to make up their minds on who to vote for.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, conducted September 19 through September 21, interviewed 1,020 Americans, including 909 registered voters and 697 likely voters.
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