Arizona and Maine were not particularly competitive in 2008, but two new polls released Wednesday show that both states could be in play in 2012.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., carried his home state by nine points three years ago. But President Obama holds a five-point lead (45 percent to 40 percent) in the Grand Canyon State over his closest GOP competitor, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, according to a poll from the Phoenix-based Behavior Research Center.
McCain was able to keep Arizona out of the swing-state column by overperforming among Hispanic voters -- a growing part of the state's electorate -- by about 10 points, comparing exit polls in the state with those nationwide.
Meanwhile, Obama carried Maine by a whopping 18 points in 2008, but a poll from Critical Insights in Portland shows he and Romney in a virtual tie, with the president leading by a just a single point, 41 percent to 40 percent.
Likely voters in Maine have soured on Obama, with just 43 percent saying that they have a favorable opinion of him, according to the poll.
The Arizona poll was conducted Oct. 13-24, surveying 581 registered voters. The margin of error is +/- 4.1 percent.
The Maine poll was conducted Oct. 18-23, surveying 600 likely voters in Maine. The margin of error is +/- 4.0 percent.
Get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox. Sign up for National Journal's morning alert, Wake-Up Call, and afternoon newsletter, The Edge. Subscribe here.
Leave A Comment