Washington:The economic crisis seems to be having its fallout on the election scene as well with Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama establishing a nine-point lead over his Republican rival John McCain for the first time in a new poll amid a perception that he is better positioned to handle the issue.

For the first time since the 1992 election, voter evaluation of the economy has come down to the single digit -- just 9 per cent of those surveyed in the latest poll of The Washington Post/ABC News rated the economy as good or excellent.

The shift in support to Senator Obama has to do with a perception that the Illinois Democrat is better positioned to handle the economic crisis, according to the survey.

Among likely voters, Obama now leads Senator McCain by 52 per cent to 43 per cent when only two weeks ago in the aftermath of the Republican convention the race was essentially at a statistical dead heat.

The survey has shown that 50 per cent called the economy and jobs the single most important issue that will determine their vote, up from 37 per cent two weeks ago. In contrast, just 9 per cent cited the Iraq war as their most important issue, its lowest of the campaign.

At a time when the administration is frantically trying to cobble together a financial stabilisation package, only 47 per cent of those polled approved of what is being done with 42 per cent expressing disapproval.
Source : PTI