WASHINGTON -- Three-quarters of adults registered to vote believe the country is "off on the wrong track," with nearly half of them reporting they are worse off financially this year than last, said a new poll released exclusively by Hearst-Argyle on Wednesday night.

The Franklin and Marshall Poll in partnership with Hearst-Argyle, taken in mid-September, said Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama leads Republican John McCain among both groups.

The economy is most often mentioned as the issue that will influence voters' presidential choice in the fall, the survey said.

The poll, taken before President George W. Bush's request for a $700 billion bailout for the financial industry, also said McCain led Obama by two percentage points, but surveys released since then show Obama making strong advances.

The Franklin and Marshall College Poll showed McCain was supported by 45 percent of respondents, compared to Obama's 43 percent.

The poll's margin of error was plus or minus 2.7 percent.

The poll said McCain has an advantage with people over the age of 55, non-Hispanic whites, people describing themselves as fundamentalist Christians, residents of the south and military veterans.

Obama's support comes primarily from people under the age of 35, non-Hispanic blacks and residents of the northeast.

McCain's advantage over Obama among people describing themselves as fundamentalist Christians has grown from 8 percentage points in June to 30 points in September.

His advantage among white men has increased from 7 points to 28 points; and his advantage among white women has increased from 5 points to 17 points, the poll said.

Candidate preference among partisans has also changed since June.

McCain has more support among Republicans than Obama has among Democrats, the survey showed.

"McCain leads among people over the age of 55, non-Hispanic whites, fundamentalist Christians, people in the south and veterans." "Obama's support comes primarily from people under the age of 35, non-Hispanic blacks and residents of the northeast." - Franklin and Marshall Poll Read The Entire Poll

McCain also has an advantage among independent voters that he did not have in June.

The survey also found that McCain's favorability ratings increased from 34 percent in June to 49 percent, while Obama's favorable ratings have remained mostly unchanged.

Perceptions about the candidates' skills and abilities tend to provide an advantage for McCain, the poll showed.

The poll says more respondents believe McCain has the experience needed to be president. He has a clear advantage in protecting the United States against terrorism and handling the war in Iraq.

Obama's only sizable advantage is in understanding the concerns of ordinary Americans, the poll said.

Half of the registered adults said they believe McCain will mostly continue the economic and foreign policies put into place by President Bush, although more Democrats and Independents than Republicans believe this is true.

Respondents who believe McCain will follow Bush policies are more likely to plan to vote for Obama.

The poll said more registered voters would be concerned if Obama were elected president than if McCain were elected president.

More Democrats were concerned about Obama (39 percent) than Republicans were concerned about McCain (16 percent).

The survey of 1,320 adults was conducted Sept. 15-21 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percent.

To read the entire poll, click here.