Washington - Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has pulled ahead of his Democratic rival Barack Obama in a series of opinion polls released after the two parties' nominating conventions.

Polls showed McCain received a major boost from the Republican convention last week - greater than Obama was given after the Democrats' convention the week before
- as the presidential campaign enters its final stretch.

Realclearpolitics. com, which compiles an aggregate of all national polls, on Monday gave McCain 46.7 per cent and Obama 45.5 per cent - the first time McCain has held an edge since May.

A USA Today/Gallup poll Monday gave McCain 50 per cent and Obama 46 per cent among registered voters.

Both McCain and Obama planned visits this week to battleground states that will be crucial to success in November's general election. Obama began the week in Michigan while his running mate Joe Biden hit Wisconsin.

McCain and Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor credited with injecting fresh energy in the Republicans' presidential hopes, were visiting Pennsylvania. The two have yet to split up on the campaign trail since Palin was picked as vice president late last month. (dpa)