New poll: Obama pulls ahead in 3 key states

WASHINGTON — A new poll showed Democrat Barack Obama pulling ahead of Republican opponent John McCain in the key swing states of Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania as their vice presidential running mates were sequestered in preparations for a much-anticipated debate.

Obama's support jumped to 50 percent or above in those states, according to Quinnipiac University surveys taken over the weekend — after he and McCain held their first presidential debate.

With fewer than five weeks remaining in what has been an extended and brutal contest for the White House, the top issue for voters is the staggering U.S. economy which has slammed Americans with home mortgage foreclosures, job losses, record fuel prices and evaporating retirement savings.

Both candidates, who are members of the U.S. Senate, were expected in Washington on Wednesday to vote on an expanded economic rescue package. The stock market plunged dramatically on Monday after the House of Representatives failed to approve a $700 billion plan to prop up the country's financial system.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was at McCain's Sedona, Arizona, compound to bone up for Thursday's only vice presidential confrontation. Sen. Joe Biden, meanwhile, was preparing at his Delaware home. Biden also planned to return to Washington for the vote.

Obama was returning to the capital after a campaign stop in Wisconsin, McCain was to be in Missouri.

The House was thought preparing to take a fresh run at the rescue plan put forward by the administration of President George W. Bush on Friday, although no vote is yet scheduled.

The three states — where Obama had been trailing or was, at best, tied in previous surveys — represent 68 of the 270 electoral votes needed for victory on Election Day, Nov. 4.

The new Quinnipiac poll was only the latest bump in the campaign trail for McCain, who is trying to retake control of the contest during particularly trying times for Republicans, who were largely blamed for the failure of the House bailout vote.

The new survey shows Obama leading McCain in Florida 51 percent to 43 percent, in Ohio 50 percent to 42 percent and in Pennsylvania 54 percent to 39 percent. Since 1960, no president has been elected without winning two of those three states.

Perhaps sensing deepening voter anxiety over the economy, both men worked Tuesday to cool the partisan heat over the crisis by calling for Congress to regroup and act quickly to prevent the feared financial collapse and foster confidence in the banking system.