Raleigh, NC – The competition for North Carolina’s 15 electoral votes for President has tightened this month with Republican Senator John McCain holding only a three point lead over his Democratic rival, Senator Barack Obama, according to the latest poll released by the Civitas Institute.

Among all voters, McCain leads Obama 43-40, a slight tightening of the four point lead McCain held in Civitas’ June survey where McCain led Obama 45-41. Libertarian Party nominee Bob Barr held steady from last month at two percent support. Fifteen percent were undecided.

“This month we’ve had slight tightening along with an increase in the number of undecided voters over last month,” said Francis DeLuca, Executive Director of the Civitas Institute. Undecided voters increased from twelve percent in June to fifteen percent in July.

Among Democrats, Obama leads 63-21, while McCain leads among Republicans (74-11) and unaffiliated voters (40-39). However, a large racial divide continues to exist. Obama garners the support of 92 percent of African-American voters, but only receives 28 percent of white voters.

“The race remains close in North Carolina and we are seeing this month how fluid the situation can be. Neither candidate has been able to make a decisive move to take a substantial lead. It should make the next few months very entertaining,” concluded DeLuca.

Previous Civitas Poll results:
February – McCain 46, Obama 36
April – McCain 48, Obama 39
May – McCain 44, Obama 39
June – McCain 45, Obama 41, Barr 2