A Franklin and Marshall College poll released August 13 shows that a, “survey of registered Pennsylvanians finds Democrat Barack Obama leading Republican John McCain by eight points, 44 to 36 [percent].”

When asked which issue was most important to them this election year, most Pennsylvania voters said the economy (43 percent) was their top concern. The Iraq War was the next issue (12 percent) that concerned Pennsylvanians. More voters trust Obama to handle the economy (42 to 39 percent) and energy policy (47 to 34 percent); however, more voters believe John McCain would best handle the Iraq War (48 to 39 percent).

Voters in the state still have concerns about both candidates with 39 percent saying they are concerned that John McCain is too much like President Bush or “would be no real change.” The same percentage of people said they were concerned that Barack Obama lacked the experience to be president.

Polling also showed that Barack Obama holds a commanding lead in the city of Philadelphia with 82 percent of registered voters supporting him, and only 7 percent supporting John McCain.

Photo Media Credit: Joe Burbank - Orlando Sentinel/MCT