Rasmussen: Obama leads McCain by 15 in Massachusetts poll

Bush Approval Holds At Low 21%U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D) and John McCain (R): Getty Images

A new Rasmussen Reports poll shows Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama leading Republican John McCain in Massachusetts by a spread of 51 percent to 36 percent. The sample size is 500 and the margin of error is +/-4.5 percent.

The poll, conducted by telephone on Aug. 5, shows little tightening in the race, with Obama down two points from their June 30 poll, while McCain has risen by three points.

Counting those only leaning toward a candidate, Obama's lead increases to 16 points, 54 percent to 38 percent.

Interestingly, the poll shows unaffiliated voters breaking for the Republican, 45 percent to 36 percent. Both have similar backing among party stalwarts, with McCain garnering 79 percent of Republicans' support and Obama getting 78 percent of Democrats.

Obama's favorability rating dropped five points to 62 percent, while his unfavorability rating rose by the same amount to 36 percent. McCain fares slightly worse, with a favorability-unfavorability rating of 57 percent to 39 percent.

Economic issues are the top concerns of Bay State voters at 43 percent, followed by national security at 24 percent. More voters believe "protecting the environment is more important that reducing the price of gas and oil," though it is a close split at 48 percent to 41 percent.

Afghanistan is taking a more prominent place in voters' minds as 42 percent believe that the country is the "central front" in the War on Terror, and 54 percent believe Afghanistan is a greater threat to the United States than Iraq. 44 percent believe America is winning the War on Terror.

President George W. Bush's approval rating remains a low 21 percent, while his disapproval rating is down slightly to 59 percent.