A new poll shows Republican John McCain is gaining on Democrat Barack Obama among likely voters in Minnesota. The poll by Quinnipiac University gives Obama 46 percent support compared to McCain's 44 percent. The same poll last month had Obama 17 points ahead of McCain.

Clay Richards is assistant director of the university's Polling Institute. He says concern about rising gas prices is boosting support for McCain, who backs increased off-shore oil drilling.

Fueling McCain's surge are younger voters and independents as well as suburban voters in the Twin Cities who supported Obama in the June poll, but are swinging in larger numbers to McCain.