McCain Hits 50% in Rasmussen, Now Tied in Minnesota

John McCain has now held a steady three-point edge over Barack Obama for three straight days and now has hit the 50% mark for the first time in months, but the big shocker is he's now tied with Obama in Minnesota, a state where he had trailed by 13 points.

Minnesota has become a battleground in a presidential campaign that has dramatically tightened nationwide.

A new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll shows that the race is now a dead heat between Barack Obama and John McCain, each supported by 45 percent of likely voters in the state.

The new poll likely will stoke both sides' efforts during the final 51 days until the election, triggering a barrage of advertising, grass-roots politicking and, potentially, stepped-up visits by the candidates.

The poll found that McCain has made gains across the board since a May Minnesota Poll that showed him trailing by 13 points. He has picked up considerable support among men and to a lesser degree among women. He also has boosted his standing with whites, young voters and all levels of household income and education.

In another significant development, more people now think McCain will win in November, which has to be a blow to the Democrats, who though this election was a foregone conclusion.

With Minnesota now a toss-up and a battleground state, it has to be a clear psychological blow to an Obama campaign that may now have to use resources in a state they must have envisioned as a clear slam dunk.