The gap between John McCain and Barack Obama in Alabama has been cut nearly in half. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds McCain ahead 51% to 36%. Though McCain still has a solid advantage, his fifteen-point lead in the Yellowhammer State is down from the twenty-eight point lead he enjoyed last month. This is consistent with other polling in Republican leaning states showing Obama closing the gap since clinching the Democratic Presidential Nomination.

Alabama has cast its nine Electoral College votes for the Republican candidate in eight out of the last nine elections. George W. Bush handedly won the state by twenty-five points in 2004, and by fourteen points in 2000.

McCain now leads 52% to 34% among men in Alabama and 50% to 39% among women. McCain is backed by 80% of Alabama Republicans while Obama gets support from just 67% of Democrats. When it comes to unaffiliated voters, McCain leads 51% to 28%.

McCain’s favorable ratings have improved from 62% last month to 67% this month. He is viewed unfavorably by 29%, down from 36% last month.

Obama’s ratings are less flattering, with 40% who rate him favorably and 57% who view him unfavorably. His ratings have improved somewhat over the past month.

Rasmussen Markets data gives the Republican candidate a 96.0 % chance of winning Alabama’s nine Electoral College votes this fall. The state is listed as “Safely Republican” in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator.

While just over a quarter of voters in Alabama (27%) think McCain is too old to be president, well over half (57%) think Obama is too inexperienced for the job.

About half (51%) do not think Hillary Clinton should be Obama’s running mate in the election. Just 28% think the opposite. Those numbers are similar to those found nationally.

Data released over the weekend revealed that support for offshore drilling has dipped slightly to 59% nationwide. In Alabama, 72% are in favor of drilling in offshore oil wells, while 18% think it should not be allowed. Sixty-two percent (62%) believe it is likely that gas prices would come down if this practice were implemented.

The survey also found that just 17% of Alabama voters believe the U.S. government represents the will of the people, while 66% disagree. Two-thirds of voters (67%) believe the government itself has become a special interest group.

Half of Alabama voters (50%) think it is more important to win the War in Iraq while 44% believe getting the troops home is the more important goal.

Forty-one percent (41%) of Alabama voters say that President Bush is doing a good or excellent job. Forty-one percent (41%) say he is doing a poor job. Nationally, the President’s Job Approval Ratings are near the lowest levels ever recorded.

The survey was conducted in partnership with Fox Television Stations, Inc.

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