WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |MTSU poll put McCain ahead of Obama in Tenn.

MTSU poll put McCain ahead of Obama in Tenn.

A poll of likely voters in Tennessee released by MTSU Monday shows John McCain over Barack Obama, 55% to 35%.

The results are similar to last week's Mason-Dixon poll of likely Tennessee voters which showed 55% of Tennesseans in favor of McCain, 39% of Obama.

The polls were taken prior to Monday's stock market crash -- something state Democratic Party spokesperson Wade Munday thinks could turn Tennesseans to Obama.

Next week's debate at Nashville's Belmont University could also make some re-think their vote.

"Once Tennessee voters see Barack Obama side-by-side with John McCain they'll become much more comfortable with him as our presidential nominee," Munday told News 2 Monday.

State republicans look at the figure as reason to think Tennesseans won't change their presidential preference.

"We actually hope [Democrats] continue to think they are not way behind so they continue to pour money and resources into a race they cannot win," Bill Hobbs, spokesperson for the Republican Party, said.

The MTSU poll also found that of those who voted for Hillary Clinton in Tennessee's Democratic Primary, 25% are now behind McCain.  56% said they would vote for Obama.

"A quarter of the people who say they voted for Senator Clinton in the Democratic Primary now to the McCain-Palin ticket is definitely noteworthy and people should pay attention to," explained Dr. Jason Reinecke, a professor at MTSU who helped conduct the poll.

The poll also asked Tennesseans what mattered most to them in the upcoming election.  53% named the economy and job issues as the number one problem facing the nation.