McCain gains traction as conventions loom

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Republican John McCain grabbed the lead over Democrat Barack Obama in a new opinion poll Wednesday, as his campaign built steam with the White House race entering a pivotal phase.

The Arizona senator meanwhile denied questioning his rival's patriotism and said Obama was getting "testy" under his barrage of attacks, while a new flurry of vice presidential speculation surrounded both hard-charging campaigns.

McCain led Obama by 47 percent to 46 percent in the new George Washington University Battleground poll, after trailing by two points in the previous edition of the survey in May.

He made headway on the key issue of energy, as 40 percent of those polled said McCain was the best bet to peg back high oil and gasoline prices, compared to 37...