Recent polls said Obama leads McCain by only 3%

According to both Newsweek poll and Gallup daily tracking poll revealed that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama leads Republican opponent John McCain by 3 percentage points. The gap is a marked change from the Democrat’s 15-point lead last month in Newsweek’s poll.

Illinois Sen. Obama captured 44 percent of respondents’ support in the poll, compared to Arizona Sen. McCain’s 41 percent, a statistically-insignificant margin, the magazine said on its Web site. The poll surveyed 1,209 registered voters July 9-10, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Fifteen percent were undecided. A June 20 Newsweek poll showed Obama leading, 51 percent to 36 percent for McCain. In the new poll, 53 percent of voters, including 50 percent of those who formerly supported Obama’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, believe that Obama has changed his position on key issues in order to gain political advantage, the magazine said.

Other recent polls have also shown a tight race. A Gallup daily tracking poll from Saturday showed Obama leading McCain 46-43 percent.