October 7, 2008
TUESDAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP....Today's installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn't generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
* A new CNN/Opinion Research poll shows Obama leading McCain nationally by eight, 53% to 45%. The same poll showed Obama leading by four in late September.
* A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll shows Obama leading McCain nationally by six, 49% to 43%. The same poll showed Obama leading by two points just two weeks ago.
* A new CBS News poll shows a closer race, with Obama leading McCain nationally by four, 47% to 43%.
* In Ohio, a Washington Post/ABC News poll shows Obama leading McCain by six, 51% to 45%, while Time/CNN shows Obama up by three, 50% to 47%. Rasmussen, however, shows McCain up by one, 48% to 47%.
* In Florida, Rasmussen shows Obama leading McCain by seven, 52% to 45%.
* In Virginia, SurveyUSA has Obama up by 10, 53% to 43%, while a Suffolk University poll shows Obama up by 12, 51% to 39%, and Rasmussen shows Obama up by two, 50% to 48%.
* In New Hampshire, Time/CNN shows Obama leading McCain by eight, 53% to 45%, while SurveyUSA has Obama up by 13, 53% to 40%.
* In North Carolina, Public Policy Polling shows Obama leading McCain by six, 50% to 44%, while Time/CNN shows Obama and McCain tied at 49% each.
* In Colorado, Rasmussen shows Obama leading McCain by six, 51% to 45%.
* In Wisconsin, Time/CNN shows Obama leading McCain by five, 51% to 46%.
* In Indiana, Time/CNN shows McCain leading Obama by five, 51% to 46%.
* In Missouri, Rasmussen shows Obama leading McCain by three, 50% to 47%.
—Steve Benen 12:00 PM
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This is GREAAAT news for McCain, BAAAAAD news for Obama!
Posted by: GOPer on October 7, 2008 at 12:04 PM | PERMALINK
Indiana... *sigh*
Posted by: Badass4Peace on October 7, 2008 at 12:04 PM | PERMALINK
I would guess that the first comment is in jest, but sometimes it's hard to separate satire from actual Republican thoughts. I would say that if these polls keep up their current trends, McCain is going to have to start preparing a concession speech for about 10 p.m. Central Time on Nov. 4th.
Posted by: Ben on October 7, 2008 at 12:12 PM | PERMALINK
Don't believe the hype! I live in IN, and have seen other polls that put the race dead even or give McCain a much smaller lead. Give us a chance! We might grow a collective brain!
Posted by: Jesse on October 7, 2008 at 12:14 PM | PERMALINK
This is brutal -- and these polls were taken before the meltdown on Wall Street yesterday. If McCain thinks a bunch of hysterical negative ads are going to turn this around, he's gravely mistaken. There are two more debates in which Obama can present himself as the calm, confident candidate in these tough times and McCain doesn't do well talking about issues that can't be solved by bombing them. On the other hand, he might just go all out and call for airstrikes on Wall Street. That could turn things around for him.
Posted by: jonas on October 7, 2008 at 12:14 PM | PERMALINK
Not a fan of polls, I'll take the Rasmussen as the bench mark. No sense getting cocky about this. I'm sure the Obama campaign isn't.
Maybe after Friday . . .
Posted by: Jeff II on October 7, 2008 at 12:24 PM | PERMALINK
Not a fan of polls, I'll take the Rasmussen as the bench mark. No sense getting cocky about this. I'm sure the Obama campaign isn't.
Maybe after Friday . . .
Posted by: Jeff II on October 7, 2008 at 12:26 PM | PERMALINK
Come on Indiana!
Posted by: Jane on October 7, 2008 at 12:26 PM | PERMALINK
I'm watching those Rasmussen polls. They've historically skewed towards the Republicans. When Rasmussen gives Obama over 50% in a state, that makes me take notice because there's a chance that he's doing even better than that. So that Colorado number looks really impressive to me.
The Ohio numbers from Rasmussen make me a little sad, because I was hoping that Obama might be over the Rasmussen hump by the time early voting started here last week. Ah well. I can hold out hope that Rasmussen's likely voter model is still too heavily favoring the Republicans and that he'll win it anyway.
Posted by: NonyNony on October 7, 2008 at 12:27 PM | PERMALINK
Regarding the first comment ... if my Republican friends (yes, I do have a few) are worried, they're hiding it well. They are, without exception, confidently predicting a McCain blowout. I can't decide whether this is delusion or just sports-fan-style bluster.
Posted by: steve on October 7, 2008 at 12:30 PM | PERMALINK
Just look at all the state polls on Real Clear Politics (clearly leans conservative), the only states now "Leaning McCain", i.e. Georgia (!) were states that were formerly "Strong McCain". The fundamentals of his campaign are not strong.
Posted by: John Henry on October 7, 2008 at 12:31 PM | PERMALINK
Saw this poll at CNN.com, for what it's worth:
Have you already decided for certain which presidential candidate you'll vote for in November?
Yes - 86%
No - 9%
Not voting - 6%
I can understand not voting. But 1 in 10 Americans doesn't know who they're voting for? It's like not knowing whether you'd rather get hugged or shot.
Posted by: chrenson on October 7, 2008 at 12:35 PM | PERMALINK
The pundits are talking about the Bradley effect now, and there seems to be a growing consensus that Obama needs a strong five point lead going into election day to win. So this thing is really close, and McCain's support is rock solid at 43-45%. The right wing crowd doesn't care about anything but winning. Their hatred of the left is blinding, unshakable. Whatever crises and problems arise, they are always the fault of those horrible liberals, who are out to destroy America. They believe that as strongly as they believe in their religions. Something to keep in mind. They will never respond to reason, to facts and evidence.
Posted by: hark on October 7, 2008 at 12:37 PM | PERMALINK
Hark,
The good thing is the pundits don't understand what the Bradley effect is. It's not about having racism; it's about hiding it.
Actual evidence says that racism isn't hidden from pollsters anymore.
If anything, there is a polling bias for McCain as heads of households answer for all voters in the household. I can only imagine there are many wives and children our there who are not voting the same way Daddy tells them to.
Posted by: doubtful on October 7, 2008 at 12:41 PM | PERMALINK
It is astounding and sad to see how close this race is. What does it say about the collective intelligence of our country that the likes of a McShame/Palin should poll so well after eight years of utter disaster.
There is no comfort level for Obama in these poll results. If he isn't up by more than five points everywhere by the end of the month I think we'll see another stolen election.
Posted by: rich on October 7, 2008 at 1:16 PM | PERMALINK
Steve @12:30: In my book a McCain blow-out would be an aneurysm.
Posted by: N.Wells on October 7, 2008 at 1:18 PM | PERMALINK
I can understand not voting. But 1 in 10 Americans doesn't know who they're voting for? It's like not knowing whether you'd rather get hugged or shot. Posted by: chrenson
What's so pathetic about all this is that it will be considered a big deal or even historic if 65% of registered voters bother to participate. This still leaves us with only about 50% of potential voters even bothering to participate.
Again, we get the government we deserve.
Posted by: Jeff II on October 7, 2008 at 1:34 PM | PERMALINK
I can understand not voting. But 1 in 10 Americans doesn't know who they're voting for? It's like not knowing whether you'd rather get hugged or shot.
Some people (1 out of 10) do not view this race as cut and dry. I'm sure there are plenty of valid reason (such as a life long Republican debating to vote for a Dem for the first time their adult life - not an easy choice to swallow) or thsoe simply who don't like either candidates and would vote Ron Paul / Ralph Nader. Ron Paul supporters are more or less young and disenfranchised. I can't fathom them throwing their support behind the Constitution Party because Ron Paul did... I could be wrong, at this point these Revolution talking heads could just take Ron Paul/Alex Jones types at face value... Either way there is a dynamic to the two party system that causes a split down the middle and the middle ends up on the fence. They are not looking to be hugged or shot. They just want their liberty, or at least an illlusion of. Welcome to the two party system.
Posted by: Mick on October 7, 2008 at 1:57 PM | PERMALINK
I'm not happy with all this talk about the 'Bradley Effect'.
My worry is that it will be used as cover for serious voter suppression and outright fraud by Republicans to steal the election. Even though exit polls will show a Obama victory if the margin is low enough in the exit polls the Republicans can fudge the election results and claim the discrepancy between the actual results and the polls is due the 'Bradley Effect'.
They are priming the pump to steal election.
We must be vigilant.
Posted by: thorin-1 on October 7, 2008 at 2:26 PM | PERMALINK
. Ron Paul supporters are more or less young and disenfranchised. Posted by: Mick
How are the "disenfranchised"? No one is preventing them from voting. The nut bag is sure to be on the ballot in a number of states or they can always write him in.
What Ron Paul supporter are is delusional, at best, stupid.
Posted by: Jeff II on October 7, 2008 at 2:27 PM | PERMALINK