ALL DEFENSE, ALL THE TIME:

Minnesota Poll: Obama, McCain are dead even in state: With 51 days before Election Day, Barack Obama and John McCain are tied with 45 percent support, raising the stakes in the campaign. (BOB VON STERNBERG, 9/14/08, Minneapolis Star Tribune)

A new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll shows that the race is now a dead heat between Barack Obama and John McCain, each supported by 45 percent of likely voters in the state. [...]

The poll found that McCain has made gains across the board since a May Minnesota Poll that showed him trailing by 13 points. He has picked up considerable support among men and to a lesser degree among women. He also has boosted his standing with whites, young voters and all levels of household income and education.

Men give McCain an early edge: Ohio Poll taken just after GOP gathering (Darrel Rowland, 9/13/08, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH)

Republican John McCain has opened a lead of 4 percentage points in Ohio since the GOP national convention, a new survey showed yesterday.

The Ohio Poll gives the Arizona senator an edge over Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, 48 percent to 44 percent.

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 14, 2008 7:59 AM