国际英语新闻：Obama makes headway in traditional Republican strongh

HEMPSTEAD, the United States, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- As this year's last presidential debate is soon to take place, fresh poll results out Wednesday showed Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama made gains in traditional Republican states.

    A new cnn/Time Magazine/Opinion Research Corporation survey in Virginia indicates that Obama holds a 10 points lead over his Republican opponent McCain, 53 percent to 43 percent among likely voters.

U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama greets potential voters at his hotel at the Maumee Bay Resort in Oregon, Ohio, October 15, 2008

President George W. Bush, a Republican, won Virginia by 9 points over Senator John Kerry in 2004 presidential race and the state hasn't voted for a Democrat in a presidential election since1964.

    "Obama is winning men and women in Virginia, and is doing well across the state east of the Blue Ridge Mountains," said cnn Polling Director Keating Holland.

    It's a similar story in Colorado, a state that hasn't voted for a Democrat in the race for the White House in 16 years. The new poll indicates Obama opened a 4 point edge over McCain, 51 percent to 47 percent.

    And in Georgia, a state that Bush won by 17 points over Kerry 4years ago and that hasn't voted for the Democrats in a presidential contest in 16 years, the poll suggests a much narrower single digit lead for McCain, 53 percent to 45 percent.