Between the eve of the final primaries on 3rd June and Monday, Obama's support among all women in polling matchups with Republican rival John McCain has jumped to give him a 13-point margin in this voter group.

According to poll out on Wednesday, in its surveys covering 5th-9th June, Obama was supported by 51 per cent of women voters compared to 38 per cent for McCain.

A week earlier, Obama topped McCain with just a 48-43 per cent spread.

Gallup pointed out that Obama's support among women voters is now close to the steady 52 per cent level Clinton had in earlier theoretical matchups with McCain, whom she led in this group by 12 points.

It said that the shift of older and married women to Obama appeared to explain his surge.

Married women backed McCain 52-40 per cent in the previous poll, and are now evenly split 45-45 per cent over the two.

Meanwhile unmarried women liked Obama by 57-32 per cent and 57-31 per cent in the earlier 27th May-2nd June poll and the most recent poll, respectively.

"Now that Clinton is no longer campaigning and the focus of voters' decision-making is a choice between Obama and McCain, female voters may be taking a second look at Obama," the poll said.

"Indeed, his current 13-point advantage over McCain is essentially the same advantage that Clinton held over McCain throughout her active candidacy."

Source: By DDNEWS