As Nov. 4 approaches, recent polls have collected data from citizens that can quite possibly hint at the next U.S. president. Between Sept. 17 and Sept. 23, the national polling showed that Barack Obama leads John McCain by an average of 3.5 percentage points. This spread ranges from Obama leading by nine points to trailing by two points.

According to Real Clear Politics’ collection of today’s polls, almost all national polls (except Battleground Tracking) show that Obama has a lead over McCain. The Democrat’s lead stretches from an insubstantial +1 to a considerable +10. It’s important to note, however, that McCain has a sizable lead in some states. In South Carolina, where McCain has strong support, he has a +19 lead over Obama.

However, when asked whom they would vote for in the upcoming election, a slight majority (although, often within the margin of error)have preferred Obama over the Republican candidate throughout most of the summer and still today.

So why does McCain trail behind Obama in these polls? The nation doesn’t believe that McCain can bring about the changes that Obama can. Obama’s commitment to bringing necessary changes to Washington is giving many Americans hope for a better future—a future that a “typical Republican” like McCain won’t be able to forge.

Although McCain’s selection of Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate boosted his support and tightened the high disparity of women’s support between the two parties, women in general still prefer Obama/Biden by 48 to 44 percent, according the most recent Lifetime poll. The belief that the Obama/Biden ticket will bring about the imperative change in government and better the economy, a major concern of voters, gives it an edge over McCain/Palin among the female population.

What do these polls mean for our country? Our future? If these polls accurately represent how the nation will vote in less than two months, our new president will be the man who will get the job done.