Politics on the Hudson

You can add Nevada to the list of states where the race for president is a toss up, according to a new poll released overnight by Boston-based Suffolk University.

Republicans have won in Nevada in eight out of the last 10 presidential races, noted a press release accompanying the poll results.

The Wednesday through Sunday survey of 600 likely voters found only a half percentage point separation between the two candidates, with 45.8 percent supporting Republican John McCain and 45.3 percent for Democrat Barack Obama.

“The top issues on the minds of Nevada presidential voters were economy/jobs (47 percent), Iraq War (11 percent), terrorism (9 percent), moral values (9 percent), health care (8 percent), and taxes (6 percent),’’ the poll found.

Another finding: “When likely voters were asked which political party—if any—deserved blame for the roiling economy, 41 percent blamed the Republicans; 16 percent blamed Democrats; 27 percent said neither; and 16 percent were undecided.’’

The margin of error in the survey was plus or minus 4 percent.