Diageo/Hotline Tracking Poll: The Early Line

Obama/Biden 50%
McCain/Palin 43%
Undec 5%

- Meet The New Boss. Today's Diageo/Hotline matchup is identical to yesterday's release. The nat'l head-to-head remains Obama 50%, McCain 43% with 5% undec.

- Get Back. After McCain made some gains this week among men, Obama is back on top. The Dem nominee now leads men by 4%, not far off his 2% margin one week ago (in the surveyed completed 10/17). Among women, Obama maintains last week's double-digit lead.

- 7:5 & Pick'ens. The IL Sen. has opened up a sizeable lead on who would best manage U.S. energy policies. Obama leads 51-36%; one week ago, he led 45-40%. Obama's 15% margin is his largest lead on energy since the survey completed 10/10.

Today's Diageo/Hotline tracking poll, conducted 10/22-24 by FD, surveyed 869 LVs and has a margin of error of +/- 3.3%. Party ID Breakdown for the sample is 41%D, 37%R, 18%I.

For subscribers, look to Monday's Latest Edition for full results and checkout Keys To The White House at any time to see how Obama and McCain are doing among key demographic groups.

(MATTHEW GOTTLIEB)