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Barack Obama leads John McCain in the latest Gallup poll of likely voters.

The survey, conducted Sept. 15-18, showed Obama (D-Ill.) holding a 50 percent to 44 percent lead over McCain (R-Ariz.) in part due to an edge in voter perception that Obama is better capable of handling economic issues.

Separate Gallup consumer tracking has shown that Americans' views of the economy deteriorated as news of a financial meltdown, and that Americans are more worried about their personal finances, that may be related to the way in which the public viewed the candidates' response to the crises in the mortgage, banking and investment industries.

Obama's rating matches his best mark in Gallup polling, reached just after the Democratic National Convention Aug. 30-Sept. 1. His six-point advantage is smaller than the nine-point lead he held in late July and an eight-point lead in late August. Both times, however, McCain managed to recover and even pull ahead in subsequent polls, indicating the race is still competitive.

Polls show a near dead heat between the candidates in North Carolina, where Obama has poured resources and volunteers to swing the traditionally Republican-leaning state to the Democratic side. N.C. voters last backed a Democrat in 1976 when Jimmy Carter of Georgia won the election.

Obama will be in Charlotte for a rally at 1 p.m. today. His wife, Michelle, was here on Thursday and running mate Joe Biden campaigned in Charlotte last week. Obama and McCain Both candidates will square off at the University of Mississippi Sept. 26 for the first of three presidential debates.

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