John McCain has pulled slightly ahead of Barack Obama in Montana according to a recent poll by Rasmussen:
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state shows McCain attracting 45% of the vote in Montana while Obama earns 44%. When “leaners” are included, it’s all tied up at 47%. A month ago, Obama had a five-point advantage in Montana.
That’s got to be like a punch in the gut for the Obama Campaign in Montana, as well as the Montana Democratic Party. Obama has several paid staff working here with six offices across the state and they lost six points in the polls. Plus, McCain hasn’t started campaigning in Montana yet.
Maybe Obama should open more offices!
It looks like Montanans feel that reporters are trying to help Obama win, too:
Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Montana voters say that most reporters are trying to help Obama win in November. Just nine percent think they’re trying to help McCain.
Montanans must remember how reporters influenced the election here in 2006.
The Western Word 
Steve: I think you are correct. Obama was an unknown and has fooled people for a long time. Now people are starting the pay attention and most polls show McCain gaining on him. -Jack
Although Mark T. would ascribe any drop in poliing numbers for Obama to be due to racism, I think that another answer is that after the primaries and the summer, people actually start to think long and hard on their choices and take them seriously.When you seriously look at Obama, he is nothing more than an empty suit that can read a teleprompter well. Because he has no substance, people are able to project anything that they want onto him.But when you pull aside the green curtain, there is even less to the “Great Obs.” than meets the eye.