Voters Split on Bailout, Prefer More Government Oversight of Financial Markets; Obama-Biden Hold 4-Point Lead, (47% - 43%)

New York, NY - The Diageo/Hotline Daily Tracker Poll shows that Obama-Biden maintains a small lead over McCain-Palin, despite a two-point downturn for the Democratic ticket since yesterday's Poll. In today's Poll, Obama-Biden is at 47%, McCain-Palin is at 43%, with 8% of voters undecided.

General Election Ballot: McCain-Palin v. Obama-Biden*

In the midst of a financial crisis, the Diageo/Hotline Daily Tracker Poll continues to show a gradual increase in the perception that the economy is the most important issue facing the country. The vast majority of respondents pick the economy as the top issue facing the country (58%).

Top Issue Facing the Country: The Economy*

Focus on the Bailout: Perceptions of the Government's Role in a Financial Crisis

In general, more voters say that they would prefer that the government have more "involvement in and oversight" over the financial markets. During the week, there has been a steady climb, with almost half of voters (47%) saying that they would like the government to have "more involvement and oversight in financial markets."

Preferred Amount of Government Involvement in Financial Markets*
(Sept 25 Poll: n=449, margin of error=+/-4.6%)

That said, when it comes to the current crisis in the financial market, voters are split as to whether the government should provide emergency funds to bail out banks and financial firms. In today's Poll, 43% say that the government "should provide emergency funds to bank and financial firms to help keep them in business" while 41% say that the government "should not provide emergency funds to financial firms because it sends the wrong signal."

Should government provide emergency funds?*
(Sept 25 Poll: n=463, margin of error=+/- 4.6%)

Over the past few days, Obama has steadied his five to six point lead over McCain in perceived performance on the economy, which has seen little shift since the September 24 Poll.

Who would do best job handling the economy?*

McCain continues to gradually close in on perceived performance on healthcare, as Obama's advantage on that issue, while significant, has decreased from 16 points in the September 22 Poll, to 11 points in today's Poll, (48% - 37%). McCain maintains his solid lead over Obama in expected performance on national security, with an all-time high perception gap of 22 percentage points in today's Poll, (55% - 33%).

* data presented in charts based on rolling 3-day average of 900+ interviews concluded the previous day (based on at least 300 interviews conducted daily).

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