A new poll conducted by The Sienna Research Institute shows John McCain trailing Barack Obama by only 5 points in New York, down from 18 only a few months ago:

The Siena Research Institute poll has Obama, a Democrat, leading Sen. John McCain 46 to 41 percent among likely voters in the heavily Democratic state. He led 51-33 in the June survey.

Kerry won New York with 58% of the vote in 2004, and Gore won by an even larger margin in 2000. If Obama were to lose New York, it is practically inconceivable that he would win the election, regardless how many swing States he were able to pull in.

Aside from New York now being in place, another survey released Friday reveals that New Jersey is in play as well:

Another poll shows the race for New Jersey’s 15 electoral votes tightening: Barack Obama leads John McCain by three percentage points, 48%-45% among likely voters including leaners, according to a Marist College Institute for Public Opinion poll released tonight.

The three point lead among likely voters is within the margin of error, making New Jersey a toss up at this point. If Barack Obama can’t hold onto Democratic strongholds like New York and New Jersey, his failed Presidential bid may do more than simply put McCain in the White House. Democrats were expected to pick up at least a couple of Senate seats this election, and maybe about a dozen seats in the House, this may no longer be the case.

Update: McCain is also leading by 5 in Pennsylvania. The wheels appear to be falling of the hopeyness express.

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Barack Obama, Election 2008, Features, John McCain, Politics