While most recent national polls show a close contest in the general election between either McCain and Obama or McCain and Clinton, adding Ralph Nader into the mix boosts John McCain, at least according to the latest Zogby poll released over the weekend.

In a prospective general election match-up, the poll shows McCain at 45 percent, Clinton at 39, and Nader at 6 (11 percent not sure/someone else). It also shows McCain 44, Obama 39, and Nader 5 (11 percent not sure/someone else) in that potential scenario.

The Zogby poll also demonstrates McCain and Obama both make inroads into the other candidate’s base. McCain wins support of nearly one in five Democrats (19 percent), while Obama garners 15 percent of Republicans.

And in a McCain/Clinton/Nader matchup, the Arizona Senator does very well among independent voters (McCain 45, Clinton 28, Nader 15).

Of course, common sense tells you you're more likely to survive a head-on collision with a school bus in a Chevy Corvair than see Nader take 15 percent of independents.

Read more about the new Zogby poll here.