In Pennsylvania, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will spend the next six weeks trying to win the state’s Democratic Presidential Primary. At the same time, voters will be paying attention in ways that may impact the general election. Right now, the Keystone State is a toss-up and it will be interesting to see if and how the general election race shifts over the coming weeks.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Pennsylvania shows John McCain leading Barack Obama by a statistically insignificant percentage point, 44% to 43%. McCain attracts 46% of the vote when matched against Clinton while the former First Lady earns 44%. Pennsylvania has cast its Electoral Votes for the Democratic candidate in four straight elections, but the margins have been very modest in the last two. See the Rasmussen Reports video analysis.

In Pennsylvania, McCain leads both Democrats by double digits among men and trails both by double digits among women. The gap is wider if Clinton is the Democratic nominee.

McCain is viewed favorably by 55% of voters in the state, Obama by 53%, and Clinton by 45%. For Obama, that figure reflects a ten-point decline from last month. In that previous poll, conducted at the height of Obamamania, the Senator from Illinois had a ten-point lead over McCain.

Forty-one percent (41%) of Pennsylvania voters say the economy is the top voting issue for Election 2008. Among these voters, Clinton is favored by nine points over McCain, Obama by twelve.

But, 62% of Pennsylvania voters believe that American society is generally fair and decent. Among these voters, McCain leads both Democrats by more than twenty percentage points.

Twenty-nine percent (29%) of Pennsylvania voters say that American society is generally unfair and discriminatory. Among these voters, both Democrats have a wide advantage. Clinton leads McCain by a two-to-one margin, Obama by a three-to-one margin.

Nationally, McCain is in a very close race with both Clinton and Obama. Results are constantly updated in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

Pennsylvania is currently ranked as Leans Democratic in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator. The Calculator is based upon latest poll results, data from Rasmussen Markets voting history, and other information. See a summary of recent state-by-state general election polling.

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