Big Ten Poll: Obama up 13 in Iowa

Big Ten Poll: Obama up 13 in Iowa

A Big Ten poll released Monday shows Democrat Barack Obama with a 13.5 percent lead over Republican John McCain in Iowa.

The poll is in line with other surveys showing Iowa with a solid Democratic lead, yet the Repblicans continue to fight for the state, with weekend visits from McCain and running mate Sarah Palin.

The survey, conducted Oct. 19-22, shows Obama at 52.4 percent to McCain's 39 percent, with 5.5 percent undecided. The margin is well outside the poll's 4.2 percent margin of error.

Obama's growing lead is attributed to increased support from Independents. In an August Hawkeye poll, independents leaned to McCain, but in the new Big Ten survey, Obama holds a 12 point lead with independents.

"The negative advertising run by McCain in Iowa over the last few weeks may have contributed to his lower favorability rating," said UI political scientist David Redlawsk, director of the Hawkeye Poll.

Obama also has a slightly stronger edge with his own party than McCain. Obama holds 94 percent of Democrats, while McCain has support from only 87 percent of Republicans.