Behind Obama's slim lead over McCain in Washington Post-ABC News Poll

The new Washington Post-ABC News Poll shows Obama holding an inconclusive lead over McCain -- 49 to 45 among registered voters. But on other interesting questions, the results are firmer.

The economy/jobs has clearly surpassed the Iraq war as the dominant issue. Obama stands to benefit from this trend more than McCain because the Democratic nominee's tax plan offers more for lower-middle-income workers than McCain's. But with Iraq a receding issue, that could help McCain, who, in contrast to Obama, opposes a quick pullout of U.S. troops.

The poll's results on "most imortant issue":

Most Important Isssue  ------------ 2008 -------------   ------ 2007 -----
                        6/15   5/11   4/13   2/1   1/12   12/9   11/1   9/7
Economy/Jobs              33     36     41    39     29     24     14    11
Iraq/War in Iraq          19     21     18    19     20     23     29    35
Health care                8      6      7     8     10     10     13    13
Gas/Oil prices/Energy      6      2      1     *      1      0      0     0
Terrorism/National
security                   4      4      5     5      4      9      5     6

Obama is even with McCain as "stronger leader," but way ahead of him regarding other values:

Regardless of who you may support, who do you think [ITEM] - (Obama) or (McCain)? 
6/15/08 - Summary Table
                                           Both    Neither     No
                                Obama    McCain   (vol.)   (vol.)    opinion
a. is the stronger leader        46       46       3        1         4
b. would do more to bring
needed change to Washington      60       26       1        8         4
c. better represents your own
personal values                  51       38       2        5         3
d. better understands the
problems of people like you      53       35       1        7         4
e. would do more to stand up to
lobbyists and special interest
groups                           51       36       2        6         5

Obama has generated far more enthusiasm:

Thinking about his candidacy for president so far, how enthusiastic
are you about [NAME] - very enthusiastic, fairly enthusiastic, not
too enthusiastic, or not enthusiastic at all? 
        --- Enthusiastic --   ---- Not Enthusiastic ----     
           NET   Very   Fairly   NET   Not too   Not at all   No opinion
a. Obama    55     28      27     44       18         26          1
b. McCain   42      9      33     57       28         29          1

Obama has a confidence problem:

Thinking of who you may support, do you think Barack Obama does or does
not have the kind of experience it takes to serve effectively as president?

       Does    Does not    No opinion
6/15/08    50       46           4
3/2/08     49       45           6

McCain is not seen as an agent of change by a decisive majority:

If McCain were elected president, do you think he'd (mainly lead the
country in a new direction), or (mainly continue in George W. Bush's
direction)? If McCain were elected president, do you think he'd (mainly
lead the country in a new direction), or (mainly continue in George
W. Bush's direction)?

           New        Same         No
         direction    direction    opinion
6/15/08      38          57          5