Poll: Hoosiers Support McCain, Daniels

INDIANAPOLIS -- Incumbent Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels has a near-insurmountable lead heading into the November general election, but the presidential race is a virtual dead heat, according to Indiana pollster Brian Howey.

Howey Politics Indiana released its poll results Thursday at the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce Hobnob event, at which candidates and business people gathered at the Indiana State Museum.

The poll showed Sen. John McCain leading Sen. Barack Obama by just two percentage points -- 45 to 43 percent.

"Obama has set up 31 offices and has been running nine weeks of television. They are going to … stretch McCain and try to get him to put in some resources," Howey said. "I think this is a pure tossup."

The poll surveyed 600 likely registered voters on Aug. 29-30, less than a day after Obama gave his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention and five hours after McCain selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

In the governor's race, Daniels leads Democratic opponent Jill Long Thompson by 18 points -- 53 to 35 percent.

"Jill Long Thompson has about a 77 percent name ID," Howey said. "Usually, in a gubernatorial race nominees of a major party are up in the 90th percentile. So, she's got some work to do to become better known."

More: www.howeypolitics.com