Obama, McCain lead in state: poll

A poll released today by Elon University found that North Carolinians favor Illinois Sen. Barack Obama over New York Sen. Hilary Rodham Clinton by a double-digit margin in the Democratic primary elections in May.

On the Republican ticket, Arizona Sen. John McCain has more than double the support among citizens than former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee.

Democrat Beverly Perdue and Republican Pat McCrory led their respective races for the gubernatorial nomination, but both parties have large numbers of undecided voters, the poll found.

North Carolina citizens cite the economy as the most important issue facing the state and say it will strongly influence how they vote in the upcoming presidential, congressional and gubernatorial elections, according to the poll.

Respondents were also split on which party to support in the North Carolina gubernatorial contest, as 36 percent back the Democratic Party and 31 percent favor the Republican Party. Thirty-two percent said it is too early to tell or that they do not know which party to support.

The poll, conducted Feb. 18-21 by the Elon University Institute for Politics and Public Affairs, surveyed 764 North Carolina residents. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percent and is weighted by gender.

The sample is of the population in general and does not restrict respondents by their voter eligibility or their likelihood of voting in an election.

"Seeing the economy become so pronounced in such a short time indicates true concern among citizens about their personal financial well-being," Hunter Bacot, director of the Elon University Poll, said in a news release. "As people begin to feel the direct effects of the poor economy, pocketbook issues may become their primary concern in the voting booth."

Specifically the poll showed:

Barack Obama: 45 percent; Hillary Clinton: 31 percent; Too early to tell / don't know: 22 percent

John McCain: 62 percent; Mike Huckabee: 24 percent; Ron Paul: 3 percent; Too early to tell / don't know: 10 percent

Among those who support the Democratic Party:

Beverly Perdue: 40 percent; Richard Moore: 28 percent; Too early to tell / don't know: 32 percent

Among those who support the Republican Party:

Pat McCrory: 28 percent; Fred Smith: 12 percent; Bill Graham: 10 percent; Bob Orr: 6 percent; Too early to tell / don't know: 44 percent

Respondents listed the following as the most important issues facing the state:

Economy: 29 percent

Education: 12 percent

Environment/Energy (including the drought): 10 percent

Taxes: 7 percent

Immigration: 7 percent

Public assistance/Medicaid or Medicare: 6 percent