CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A new poll shows Barack Obama ahead of John McCain in the presidential race in West Virginia, the first time in the campaign that the Democrat has had the lead in the Mountain State.

The poll, conducted by American Research Group, showed Obama with a 50 to 42 percent lead over McCain. Three percent said they would vote for someone else, and 5 percent were undecided.

According to the poll, 76 percent of Democrats said they would vote for Obama, and 79 percent of Republicans said they would vote for McCain. Half of the independents polled said they would vote for Obama; 38 percent said they would choose McCain.

The poll was conducted Oct. 4-8, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 points.

Within hours of its release, some national political and polling analysts expressed skepticism about the ARG poll. Nate Silver of the Web site fivethirtyeight.com said he was "very, very skeptical" of the poll, and Taegan Goddard of politicalwire.com called the result "especially odd."

Rasmussen also released a poll of the state on Sept. 24, and found McCain with the same 50-42, eight-point lead. A few other polls released in September showed McCain with a lead of about five points.

The poll, conducted by American Research Group, showed Obama with a 50 to 42 percent lead over McCain. Three percent said they would vote for someone else, and 5 percent were undecided.

According to the poll, 76 percent of Democrats said they would vote for Obama, and 79 percent of Republicans said they would vote for McCain. Half of the independents polled said they would vote for Obama; 38 percent said they would choose McCain.

The poll was conducted Oct. 4-8, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 points.

Within hours of its release, some national political and polling analysts expressed skepticism about the ARG poll. Nate Silver of the Web site fivethirtyeight.com said he was "very, very skeptical" of the poll, and Taegan Goddard of politicalwire.com called the result "especially odd."

Rasmussen also released a poll of the state on Sept. 24, and found McCain with the same 50-42, eight-point lead. A few other polls released in September showed McCain with a lead of about five points.