Poll puts Obama 6% clear of McCain

A new poll finds Barack Obama is leading John McCain nationally by 6%, thanks to big leads he is enjoying among women, minorities and younger voters.

The Associated Press-Ipsos poll shows Mr Obama is leading his Republican rival 47% to 41%.

Mr McCain has a 10% lead among whites and is tied with the Democrat among men, but Mr Obama is leading by 13% among women and has huge leads with minorities and the young.

The poll was released today following a week in which the two camps accused each other of bringing race into a campaign in which Obama is seeking to become the country’s first African-American president.