Women, Suburbanites Are Key Blocs for Campaigns

WASHINGTON — Kathy Melkey stands astride some of the fault lines between Barack Obama and John McCain. The 49-year-old substitute teacher from Granby, Conn., is a white woman, an independent and a suburbanite. Each of those groups is closely divided between the two presidential candidates. “I’m waiting for somebody to wow me here,” said Melkey, who says she likes Obama but could change her mind. Polls indicate a close race. An Associated Press-Ipsos poll and other surveys taken before the Democratic and Republican conventions provide a look at how Obama and McCain are doing with blocs of voters. MCCAIN’S STRENGTHS The 72-year-old Republican senator from Arizona and Vietnam War prisoner is doing strongly with whites, older voters and several types of men. But there’s little evidence he is benefiting much from the age and racial contrasts between himself and Obama, 47, who would become the first African-American president. McCain’s 10 percentage ... (link)