According to a new Pew Research poll, Sen. Barack Obama's national lead over Sen. John McCain has disappeared.
The race is now a statistical tie, with Obama barely edging McCain, 46% to 43%. In late June, Obama held an eight point lead.
Two reasons for the shift:
McCain "is garnering more support from his base --
including Republicans and white evangelical Protestants -- than he was
in June, and he also has steadily gained backing from white working
class voters over this period."
McCain "has made gains on his leadership image. An even greater
percentage of voters than in June now see McCain as the candidate who
would use the best judgment in a crisis, and an increasing percentage
see him as the candidate who can get things done."