Republican Sen. John McCain has closed within three points of Democratic Sen. Barack Obama in the presidential race among likely voters in Pennsylvania, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll released this morning.

Mr. Obama leads Mr. McCain 48-45 percent in the state, but Mr. McCain has received significant support among white women and independents, the poll shows.

"While GOP vice president candidate Sarah Palin undoubtedly helped McCain among white women, Obama got some help among Catholics in Pennsylvania from his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, a Catholic from Scranton," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Mr. Obama held a 49-42 percent lead over Mr. McCain in the state the past two months.

Quinnipiac University polls are conducted simultaneously in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, three so-called swing states.