Good news and bad news for McCain

U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Phoenix) received some welcome news Thursday in the form of a new Fox News poll that shows him trailing his Democratic rival, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) by one point. However, the day brought unwelcome coverage as well - both in the form of a New York Times article highlighting McCain's vulnerabilities in his home state, and a report that Obama raised more money in Arizona during June than did the state's senior senator.

Fox News released a poll showing the gap between Obama and McCain at one percentage point, with Obama leading 41-40. With independent candidates included, Obama's lead increases marginally, giving him the edge 40 to 37.

Thursday's Gallup daily presidential tracking poll also showed Obama with a slimmer-than-average lead, besting McCain 45 to 43. However, the new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows Obama leading the race 47 to 41.

Despite the tightening of the national poll numbers, there are warning signs for McCain in Arizona. The New York Times has an article examining bad omens for the senator on his own soil, including a strengthening Democratic Party, the Republican Party "more or less in disarray," and an influx of younger voters.

The article also mentions that the McCain campaign includes Arizona as one of 24 "battleground states," and points out that Democrats have seized on that as a sign that McCain is weak in the state.

However, it goes on to say,

"While Democrats welcomed the McCain campaign’s description of Arizona as a battleground state, the pronouncement could also have been a strategic move, done to raise money or motivate volunteers at home, or to mess with the minds of the opposition.

“'I didn’t take that too seriously,' said Mr. [Randy] Pullen, the Republican chairman. 'I probably should have called them to ask why. It could have been a trap for Obama.'”

If it was, it may not be working. According to the Arizona Republic, Obama outpaced McCain in collecting donations from Arizonans.

"Obama reported $432,000 in donations from Arizonans in June, compared with McCain's $313,000, based on an Arizona Republic analysis of Federal Election Commission records. Neither campaign properly codes all contributions with a state, making it impossible to know exactly where all donations came from.

"Since last year, McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, has raised at least $4.7 million from his fellow Arizonans, double what Obama reports from the state. But donations this year are nearly even: McCain's Arizona donors have given him $2 million. Obama's Arizona donors have given him just $66,000 less."