Poll shows McCain in 5-point lead over Obama
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a sharp turnaround, Republican John McCain has opened a 5-point lead on Democrat Barack Obama in the U.S. presidential race and is seen as a stronger manager of the economy, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.
McCain leads Obama among likely U.S. voters by 46 percent to 41 percent, wiping out 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 McCain, who has questioned Obama’s experience, criticized his opposition to most new offshore oil drilling and mocked his overseas trip.
The poll was taken Thursday through Saturday as Obama wrapped up a weeklong vacation in Hawaii that ceded the political spotlight to McCain, who seized on Russia’s invasion of Georgia to emphasize his foreign policy views.
“There is no doubt the campaign to discredit Obama is paying off for McCain right now,” pollster John Zogby said. “This is a significant ebb for Obama.”
McCain now has a 9-point edge, 49 percent to 40 percent, over Obama on the critical question of who would be the best manager of the economy — an issue nearly half of voters said was their top concern in the November 4 presidential election.
That margin reversed Obama’s 4-point edge last month on the economy over McCain, an Arizona senator and former Vietnam prisoner of war who has admitted a lack of economic expertise and shows far greater interest in foreign and military policy.
McCain has been on the offensive against Obama during the last month over energy concerns, with polls showing strong majorities supporting his call for an expansion of offshore oil drilling as gasoline prices hover near $4 a gallon.
Obama had opposed new offshore drilling, but said recently he would support a limited expansion as part of a comprehensive energy program.
That was one of several recent policy shifts for Obama, as he positions himself for the general election battle. But Zogby said the changes could be taking a toll on Obama’s support, particularly among Democrats and self-described liberals.
“That hairline difference between nuance and what appears to be flip-flopping is hurting him with liberal voters,” Zogby said.
Obama’s support among Democrats fell 9 percentage points this month to 74 percent, while McCain has the backing of 81 percent of Republicans. Support for Obama, an Illinois senator, fell 12 percentage points among liberals, with 10 percent of liberals still undecided compared to 9 percent of conservatives.
OBAMA NEEDS TO WORK ON BASE
“Conservatives were supposed to be the bigger problem for McCain,” Zogby said. “Obama still has work to do on his base. At this point McCain seems to be doing a better job with his.”
The dip in support for Obama, who would be the first black U.S. president, cut across demographic and ideological lines. He slipped among Catholics, born-again Christians, women, independents and younger voters. He retained the support of more than 90 percent of black voters.
“There were no wild swings, there isn’t one group that is radically different than last month or even two months ago. It was just a steady decline for Obama across the board,” Zogby said.
Obama’s support among voters between the ages of 18 and 29, which had been one of his strengths, slipped 12 percentage points to 52 percent. McCain, who will turn 72 next week, was winning 40 percent of younger voters.
“Those are not the numbers Obama needs to win,” Zogby said about Americans under 30. The 47-year-old is counting on a strong turnout among young voters, a key bloc of support during his primary battle with New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.
It made little difference when independent candidate Ralph Nader and Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr, who are both trying to add their names to state ballots.
McCain still held a 5-point edge over Obama, 44 percent to 39 percent, when all four names were included. Barr earned 3 percent and Nader 2 percent.
Most national polls have given Obama a narrow lead over McCain throughout the summer. In the Reuters/Zogby poll, Obama had a 5-point lead in June, shortly after he clinched the Democratic nomination, and an 8-point lead on McCain in May.
The telephone poll of 1,089 likely voters had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
The poll was taken as both candidates head into their nominating conventions and the announcements of their choices of vice presidential picks. The Democratic convention begins on Monday in Denver, with the Republican convention opening the next Monday, September 1, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
(Editing by Patricia Wilson and Patricia Zengerle)
It seems as though God has chosen to BLESS America despite Jeremiah Wright’s wishes to the contrary.
Comment by Bill Levinson — August 21, 2008 @ 2:19 am
The following appear to be swing states (those most favoring McCain listed first):
1. Virginia
2. Colorado
3. North Carolina
4. Wisconsin
5. New Mexico
6. New Hampshire
7. Iowa
For the rest, assume they will vote the same way they did in 2000 and 2004 (third parties, such as the Greens and Libertarians, will have an effect in close states). Whoever gets the most electoral votes among the above seven states should win.
The Key state at the moment seems to be North Carolina. Recent polls there were 42:46 and 50:43, which averages out to a statistically even race.
Comment by BlandOatmeal — August 21, 2008 @ 5:24 am
With the help of Hashem,America’s nightmare will cease on January 08, 2009.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOp_MNdse24
Comment by h peskin — August 21, 2008 @ 6:03 am
Peskin Better versions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlHlXHimo_g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-zWsaPqQxw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX1FDu6oAsQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjQxs-i2Bfc From Montreal 06 concert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt_fDuBjqqA&feature=related
Comment by yamit82 — August 21, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
Peskin just for you with love:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElDtH7rP3T0&feature=related
Comment by yamit82 — August 21, 2008 @ 2:27 pm
JPost.com » Opinion » Op-Ed Contributors » Article
Jul 1, 2008 23:49 | Updated Jul 2, 2008 10:02
Why more Jews won’t be voting Democrat this year
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1214726181011&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Comment by yamit82 — August 22, 2008 @ 8:22 am
I didn’t know that Joe Biden had a wife and child die in an accident. He has my deepest sympathies over such a terrible loss. Truly, this is the only fact I know about him as an individual, other than he attended elite colleges, took elite money, and worked with elite foreign governments and elite foreign bankers to SELL AMERICA OUT to foreign interests. It seems to me that Senator Joe Biden seeks to capitalize on his family’s death and justify every bad decision he ever made based on the fact he experienced a personal tragedy!
I have a cousin who was just killed by a drunk driver and decapitated. Shall I use my cousin to draw the sympathies of the general public and draw the whole world to play a violin for me and my cousin? No. Shall I express that every bad decision I am about to make is justifiable – even if I’m WRONG? Uhm. No.
Democratic strategists are flat out evil for using tragedy to jerk a tear from the general public, while exploiting the poor and the needy people that THEY and not just Republicans put out on the street through their evil policies. Let’s take a refresher course on Biden’s foreign policies that hurt Americans and do a recap on how many great and good men like myself, lost jobs, because of HIS policies!
Okay, so most people have had a terrible tragedy and experienced anger over how the SYSTEM has failed for them and their loved ones. I relate to that. But with SOBER judgment, I was not impressed by Joe Biden USING poor people as a license to excuse every bad decision he ever made, which created poverty in the first place!
I would pray for Joe Biden to turn to Jesus for Salvation, but I don’t think he loves Jesus, supports Israel or cares about America.
You see, Joe Biden did not USE his tragedy to become a better man, but became an embittered enemy of America and promoted a godless society for a godless America. He has the nerve to talk about foreign policy? Let’s not use THE POOR and EXPLOIT THE POOR such as democrats have done! No, it is Senator Biden who transferred the wealth of America to foreign governments. His kind of change is CHANGING America into a communist/fascist country.
I listened to this donkey hole speak today – I LOVE POOR AND NEEDY PEOPLE just as any man, but I watched how democratic companies do business with foreign governments, and it is JOE BIDEN’S FOREIGN POLICY THAT CAUSED A LOT OF PEOPLE to loose their jobs, loose their homes, and destroy the patriotic spirit that was once America. Joe Biden is not funny. Joe Biden is not cool. Joe Biden USES poor people; Obama uses poor people; but it’s not from the heart – it’s all for themselves and nothing more.
I wish that Obama/Biden Laden would just shut up and quit exploiting the poor and the needy and drawing the sympathies of murderers, terrorists, communists and poor people who hate Bush. Bush is not to blame for the world’s problems, but I would say that the ELITE BANKERS that Biden did business with are the true source of the world’s problems. Can we follow JOE BIDEN’S MONEY? Therein lies all the reasons why I call him a donkey hole! As a FOREIGN RELATIONS ELITIST, he sold America out and then has the nerve to blame the Bush family for all his problems!
We also need to do a recap of how Joe Biden questioned General Petraeus because I was completely offended by the disrespect Biden showed towards our General and I was unimpressed by his speech against Bush today and only gives me evidence that all of his hate and anger fuels the fires of the enemies who are positioned against us.
Obama and Biden are feeding on the hate of foreign governments and USING THE POOR IN AN EXPLOITATION STRATEGY that is just PATHETIC!
Yes, I DO SYMPATHIZE over Joe Biden’s loss; I have suffered loss too; but we need an overview of whether that justifies Joe Biden being a donkey hole his whole life and attracting the trash and filth of society, who will most likely vote for him. Let no good and decent person vote for such a wicked, stupid man like Obama/Biden/Laden.
Without Regards and All Due Disrespect,
Sunstar
strategyroom@foxnews.com
Comment by Michael Sunstar — August 23, 2008 @ 7:40 pm