Gallup, Pew Find Top Race Tight Again

THE POLL: Gallup Poll Daily tracking, national presidential race among registered voters

THE NUMBERS: Barack Obama 48 percent, John McCain 44 percent

OF INTEREST: According to this poll, voters' views of the race have returned to about where they were for much of the summer, when Obama generally had a modest but consistent lead over McCain. The Republican caught Obama as the GOP convention ended in early September and McCain's lead in this survey reached as high as 5 percentage points. Obama, though, has regained a slender advantage.

DETAILS: Conducted Sept. 15-17 by landline and cellular telephone with 2,815 registered voters. Sampling error margin plus or minus 2 percentage points.

THE POLL: Pew Research Center, national presidential race among registered voters

THE NUMBERS: Barack Obama 46 percent, John McCain 44 percent

OF INTEREST: This poll, now showing an even contest, has changed little over the summer. Narrowed to likely voters, each candidate gets an even tighter 46 percent. Republicans are more excited than before the party conventions of late August and early September, though Obama's remain slightly more energized. McCain has cut Obama's edge for being more trusted on the economy _ voters' top issue _ from 15 percentage points in July to 9 points. People are still split about evenly over whether they think the Republican's policies will differ from those of the unpopular President Bush. Obama is still viewed as likelier than McCain to bring change to Washington.

DETAILS: Conducted Sept. 9-14 by landline and cellular telephone with 2,509 registered voters. Sampling error margin plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

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