F & M poll sees Obama up six points

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has an early lead against his opponent in the race for president, holding a six-point edge over U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), according to a poll released this morning by Franklin & Marshall College.

The national poll surveyed 1,501 voters from June 16-June 22, and found that 15 percent of voters remain undecided, while seven percent said they would vote for a different candidate.

It is the latest in a series of polls that have shown Obama holding an early edge among numerous demographic groups. In the poll, he leads by 10 points among women, 28 points among voters under the age of 55, and a whopping 88 points among blacks.

McCain, by contrast, holds leads among older voters and whites, according to the poll.

Perhaps most importantly, Obama is besting McCain among independent voters, who are likely to be a decisive factor in the election, by 7 points. But 24 percent of thos voters don't yet have a preference.