McCain Up By 5 Points In Latest Florida Poll

Tallahassee, FL (AHN) - Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is ahead by five points in the first poll of Sunshine State voters since the GOP convention last week.

According to the Public Policy Polling, McCain leads Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) 50-45 percent, up from his 47-44 percent advantage last month.

McCain has the support of white voters, 61-34 percent, men, 51-42 percent, and all age groups except those younger than 29 years. He leads seniors, 57-38 percent.

Obama holds the edge among Hispanics, 49-42 percent, blacks, 88-10 percent, and young voters, 52-44 percent.

Women are essentially tied between McCain and Obama at 49-47 percent.

Forty-five percent of voters said Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin made them more likely to support McCain, while 34 percent said they were less likely. Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) drew 36 percent more-likely responses for Obama and 30 percent less-likely answers.

Significant also is a five point shift in party identification toward Republicans.

"Barack Obama has dropped a few points each time we've polled Florida over the course of the summer," Public Policy Polling President Dean Debnam said in a news release. "Virginia and Colorado may end up as the states more critical to his Electoral College strategy this fall if the trend continues."

The survey was conducted from Sept. 6-7 among 968 likely voters. The margin of error is 3 percent.

Florida is a battleground state that decided the 2000 presidential election. It is one of six states with the most electoral votes, at 27. A candidate needs 270 out of the total 538 electoral votes from all states to win.