Hold on to your seats.

A new poll suggests that GOP presidential hopeful John McCain will not win Rhode Island in November’s monumental contest.

Barack Obama’s lead, which was already substantial, appears to be growing, according to a poll conducted by Opinion Factor Worldwide, a Utah-based marketing and opinion research company that recently opened a Warwick office and call center.

Obama is favored by 48 percent of respondents, compared with McCain’s 26 percent, according to the survey of 1,140 Rhode Islanders that was taken between Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Obama led 45 percent to 26 percent in the company’s previous poll.

“The temporary suspension of John McCain’s presidential campaign and the failure of the House of Representatives to pass the original banking crisis bill had little impact on Barrack Obama’s or John McCain’s support in Rhode Island,” Opinion Factor said in a statement in which it announced a “consulting relationship” with longtime Rhode Island pollster Victor L. Profughi, director of Rhode Island College’s Bureau of Government Research and Services.

“We welcome Vic as the voice of Opinion Factor here in New England,” Opinion Factor CEO Richard Kuchinsky said.

Regarding the high-profile legislation passed by the Congress last week, the poll found that an equal percentage, 35, favored and opposed passage, while 28 percent either had no opinion or refused to answer the question.

As to who was “most responsible for the current economic crisis on Wall Street,” 32 percent of respondents blamed Wall Street bankers, 32 percent the Bush administration, and only 10 percent Democrats in Congress. (The poll did not ask respondents their opinion on Republicans in Congress.)

Italian media visits R.I.

Governor Carcieri spent part of Thursday afternoon meeting with members of the Italian media.

Planning a run for public office in Italy perhaps? Not exactly.

The European reporters are in Rhode Island as part of a trip to meet with GTECH executives about the company’s 2006 takeover by Italian firm Lottomatica S.p.A, the governor’s office said.

The team of journalists visited the State House, where they sat down with Carcieri to discuss both politics and GTECH, according to spokeswoman Amy Kempe.

“It’s a general get-to-know-you,” Kempe said.

The interview came during a week when the governor’s schedule was jammed with meetings of his department heads as they try to craft plans to cope with the loss of more than 1,100 state employees who have retired to avoid increases in their health insurance costs.

The visiting journalists are from the following outlets, according to Kempe:

Il Giornale (could this be the Providence Journal’s European cousin?), an Italian language daily newspaper focusing on politics, economics and events.

Finanza & Mercati, Italy’s leading daily financial newspaper.

Milano Finanza and a CNBC Europe commentator. Milano Finanza is Italy’s leading financial weekly paper. It is owned by Dow Jones and affiliated with CNBC Europe.

Governor’s aide an ace

It’s not all bad news on Smith Hill.

An assistant to Governor Carcieri, Marge Gartelman, is probably still smiling today after sinking a hole in one during a golf tournament last week at the Exeter Country Club.

“We were jumping for joy,” said Gartelman, who’s been playing golf for nine years. She’s been sharing the good news with many of her State House colleagues.

She did a little research too, finding that just 17 percent of all holes in one are made by women. That’s according to holeinone.com, she says.

The shot came during a benefit tournament for the Smithfield Fraternal Order of Police on Monday. Gartelman said she felt good about the shot off the tee. It was the course’s par 3 11th hole, which is 130 yards from the women’s tee.

She’s still giddy when she tells the story: “I said, ‘I think I hit the pin.’ But [my friend] said, ‘I think it went in.’ ”

It wasn’t until she saw the ball in the cup that she believed it.

“It’s luck, sheer luck,” she said.

In good golfing tradition, Gartelman was forced to buy drinks after the round. But she says she bought drinks only for the women.

She didn’t go away empty-handed, though. The tournament organizers gave her a $500 gift card for a Glocester liquor store.

Love 22 still doing ‘God’s work’ on the hustings

He’s running for president again.

Rhode Island native Love 22 — that’s his legal name — kicked off a 22-city campaign at the Rhode Island State House Wednesday. He handed out homemade $22 bills to the handful of people walking around the capitol.

In a brief interview, the 71-year-old who bore a slight resemblance to Uncle Sam (yes, he was wearing a top hat) said he was doing “God’s work.” He said he’s the longest-running write-in candidate in American history.

Love 22’s tour continued in New York City on Thursday.

Snacking on the set

Whoever said Hollywood is always on a diet has apparently never been to the Brotherhood snack tent.

Cast and crew of the Showtime television series need look no farther to satisfy cravings of any sort.

The craft services tent, which accompanies the crew members everywhere they go, is a junk food junkie’s paradise. Doughnuts, coffee, cookies and chips line the tables — set up for last week’s shoot in the State House parking lot — not to mention the pounds and pounds of candy in every variety imaginable. Milk Duds, Charleston Chews, M&Ms, the list goes on and on.

The snacking tent is separate from the catering truck, which provides hot meals to anyone on set, a crew member reports. It’s just there to make sure the cast and crew has noshing options at any time of day.

We’re getting hungry just thinking about it.

cneedham@projo.com