Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama leads rival Hillary Clinton among North Carolina voters in part because voters say they value trustworthiness over experience.

But North Carolina voters gave Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, higher marks than either Democrat on both counts, as well as on his credentials to keep the country safe, according to a new poll sponsored by the Charlotte Observer and WCNC television..

"(It's) his whole background," said Democrat Robert Brown, 46, an online trader from Chapel Hill. "He was a prisoner of war. He's an upfront, straight-talking man."

The poll found that trust is the top consideration for most voters. Nearly nine in 10 said it would play a big role in determining their vote.

Read the full story at Charlotte.com.