Barack Obama is drawing more support from white voters than any Democratic presidential nominee since Jimmy Carter in 1976, according to a Politico analysis of recent Gallup and Pew Research Center polling. Obama is positioned to win 44 percent of non-Hispanic white voters, the highest share for a Democrat since Carter carried 47 percent of the white vote in his White House victory three decades ago, according to Politico. Bill Clinton was supported by 43 percent of white voters in 1996, including 38 percent of white men.
Until recently, polls had show Obama's support among white voters around 35 percent, Politico reported. One reasons he has been able to increase that number is he is taking support from one of John McCain's most reliable demographic groups: white men.
And in just the last week, Obama's support among white voters jumped five points to 43 percent, Politico found.
Lyndon Johnson is the last Democrat to win a majority of white voters. By contrast, John McCain is drawing between 48 percent to 50 percent of support from white voters in recent weeks, which would be the lowest share for a GOP candidate in a two-man race since Barry Goldwater.