by KYW's Tony Romeo

A new poll shows Barack Obama with a seven point lead among Pennsylvania voters.

The new Franklin and Marshall College poll of Pennsylvania registered voters shows Barack Obama leading John McCain by seven percentage points, 45-percent and 38-percent.

Poll director Terry Madonna says not surprisingly, the number of people who think the economy is the most important issue is up since the school’s last poll in August, and that, he believes benefits Obama.

And he believes unless the current economic crisis can be resolved quickly, McCain has a big challenge:

“There’s still two more debates, there’s a vice-presidential debate. Almost anything can change in what is still, I think, a fairly fluid electorate. But he needs to change the subject.”

Otherwise, Madonna says McCain will have to convince more voters that he can best handle the economy, or else hope for some other major issue or revelation about his opponent to arise.