Polls: Obama Improving In Key General Election States

UPDATE: (5/27): SurveyUSA's continuing polling of swing states has produced this Iowa poll, where Obama holds a 9-point lead over McCain.

UPDATE (5/23): Survey USA has an Ohio poll suggesting a sizable 9-point lead for Barack Obama in a matchup against McCain.

---
Original Post: A series of recent polls suggest Barack Obama has begun to open big leads in some states that will be crucial to the a Democratic win in November. But in at least two swing states, Clinton continues to outperform John McCain while Obama lags behind.

California: Obama Opens Big Lead Over McCain, Clinton's Unfavorability Rises

According to a survey conducted over the past 10 days by the Public Policy Institute of California, 59 percent of likely voters here now have a "favorable" impression of Democrat Obama, while a majority view both of the other candidates unfavorably. In a state whose Democratic primary Clinton won in February, 51 percent of voters now say they have an unfavorable opinion of her; 53 percent of voters feel the same way about Republican McCain.

Obama, meanwhile, seems to be making strides across nearly every constituency. If the general election were held today, 54 percent of Californians say they would vote for him, compared with 37 percent for McCain. That gap has widened by 8 points since March. Obama enjoys the support of more than 80 percent of Democrats here, along with over half (55 percent) of independents. He leads McCain among men and women and is viewed favorably by nearly 70 percent of Latinos--a powerful political group, experts note, not just in California but in several other western states, including Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada.

Virginia: Obama Beats McCain By 7

In October of 2006, John McCain led Barack Obama among Virginia's registered voters by 20 points. Today, 19 months later, the same question, using the same methodology, as you can see in the table below, shows Barack Obama defeating John McCain by 7 points.

Florida: Clinton Beats McCain, McCain Beats Obama

Clinton: 48%

McCain: 41%

Obama: 41%
McCain: 45%

Ohio: Clinton Beats McCain, McCain Beats Obama

Clinton: 48%

McCain: 41%

Obama: 40%
McCain: 44%

Pennsylvania: Clinton, Obama Beat McCain

Clinton: 50%

McCain: 37%

Obama: 46%
McCain: 40%