WASHINGTON, Aug 20 - In a sharp turnaround, Republican John McCain has opened a 5-point lead on Democrat Barack Obama in the US presidential race and is seen as a stronger manager of the economy, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

Mr McCain leads Mr Obama among likely US voters by 46 percent to 41 percent, wiping out Mr Obama’s solid 7-point advantage in July and taking his first lead in the monthly Reuters/Zogby poll. The reversal follows a month of attacks by Mr McCain, who has questioned Mr Obama’s experience, criticized his opposition to most new offshore oil drilling and mocked his overseas trip.