Battleground Zero

Dispatches From Swing Counties

By Jefferson Morley 08/22/2008

On the eve of the presidential nominating conventions starting next week, Sen. John McCain, the presumed Republican nominee, has narrowed, if not eliminated, the lead that Sen. Barack Obama, the likely Democratic candidate, held in national polls just a month ago.

The Zogby/Reuters poll that had McCain behind by seven percentage points in July now has the Arizona senator leading by five points. Meanwhile, Obama, though ahead by six points in a Gallup poll as recently as a month ago, now has just a slim one-point lead, well within the margin of error.