July 29 (Bloomberg) -- Republican John McCain gained ground in a poll that found Democrat Barack Obama's trip abroad didn't broaden confidence in his ability to be commander-in-chief of the U.S. military, USA Today said.

The USA Today/Gallup poll conducted July 25-27 showed Illinois Senator Obama with 47 percent to 44 percent for Arizona Senator McCain among registered voters, down from the 6 percentage point lead Obama had in a similar poll last month, the paper said.

Among likely voters, McCain had 49 percent to 45 percent for Obama, a reversal of a 5-point lead Obama had last month. The poll of 1,007 adults had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points in both cases.

The poll showed added support for the U.S. troop increase in Iraq and a nation evenly divided between withdrawing troops with and without a timetable, USA Today said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Nadine Elsibai in Washington at nelsibai@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: July 29, 2008 08:57 EDT