Barack Obama tops poll on economic matters

Democrat presidential candidate, Barack Obama, now holds an advantage over rival John McCain.

In a new Washington Post-ABC News poll Obama has been given an 8-point advantage among registered voters.

It is Obama's lead on the economy that has become a particularly steep challenge for McCain.

Economic concerns are going to challenge the presidential nominees with gasoline and energy prices coming in as the top issues.

The Iraq war ranks further down the list.

Terrorism also ranks below the top three with issues such as education, health care and Social Security dotted throughout the poll.

Obama holds the edge over McCain on many areas of domestic policy with Americans remaining in a generally unhappy mood about the Bush administration.