Senator Barack Obama is showing surprising strength among portions of the political coalition that returned George W. Bush to the White House four years ago, a cross section of support that, if it continues through Election Day, would exceed that of Bill Clinton in 1992, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News polls.
Underscoring the building strength of Mr. Obama's candidacy in the final phase of the campaign, he was ahead of Mr. McCain among various groups that voted for Mr. Bush four years ago: those with incomes greater than $50,000 a year; married women; suburbanites; white Catholics, and is even competitive among white men -- a group that has not voted for a Democrat over a Republican since 1972, when pollsters began surveying people after they voted.
See a slideshow of the states where he is ahead:
Obama is leading McCain among numerous groups that voted for Bush in 2004.
Obama is leading McCain among numerous groups that voted for Bush in 2004.
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At an "ear-splitting rally" in Richmond, Virginia, Obama promised to deliver the state for Democrats for the first time since 1964, the Washington Post reported.
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Politico has reported that McCain's path to victory likely runs through Pennsylvania. Polls are showing Obama ahead there by double-digits.
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Obama is planning to visit Colorado for the third time since the convention this Sunday. Republicans, meanwhile, have reduced their ad spending in the state.
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Due to the combination of "a flood of television ads, an unprecedented army of Democratic campaign workers and a souring economy," Obama has a good shot at winning Florida, the Chicago Tribune reported.
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John Dickerson of Slate.com is calling Indiana "Obama's October Surprise" due to how close he is running in the historically red state.
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CNN reports that its North Carolina battleground poll shows "a statistical dead heat in a state last carried by a Democratic presidential candidate in 1976."
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McCain's campaign gave up on Michigan earlier this month.
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Obama is leading in battleground Ohio, a state Bush carried in 2000 and 2004.
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New Hampshire has helped McCain make comebacks before, but his luck may well run out in November as Obama is ahead in the Granite State.
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Obama drew a crowd of 150,000 at a rally in St. Louis, Missouri, last week.
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Bush narrowly won Nevada in 2004 and this time the state is leaning blue.
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