Polls!
By Pejman Yousefzadeh Posted in 2008 | Barack Obama | Hillary Clinton | John McCain — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Yes, I know that I am reporting on a Zogby poll, so take this with a generous dollop of salt. But it is worth noting:
Democrat Barack Obama's big national lead over Hillary Clinton has all but evaporated in the U.S. presidential race, and both Democrats trail Republican John McCain, according a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.
The poll showed Obama had only a statistically insignificant lead of 47 percent to 44 percent over Clinton, down sharply from a 14 point edge he held over her in February when he was riding the tide of 10 straight victories.
Illinois Sen. Obama, who would be America's first black president, has been buffeted by attacks in recent weeks from New York Sen. Clinton over his fitness to serve as commander-in-chief and by a tempest over racially charged sermons given by his Chicago preacher.
The poll showed Arizona Sen. McCain, who has clinched the Republican presidential nomination, is benefiting from the lengthy campaign battle between Obama and Clinton, who are now battling to win Pennsylvania on April 22.
McCain leads 46 percent to 40 percent in a hypothetical matchup against Obama in the November presidential election, according to the poll.
That is a sharp turnaround from the Reuters/Zogby poll from last month, which showed in a head-to-head matchup that Obama would beat McCain 47 percent to 40 percent.
"The last couple of weeks have taken a toll on Obama and in a general election match-up, on both Democrats," said pollster John Zogby.
Matched up against Clinton, McCain leads 48 percent to 40 percent, narrower than his 50 to 38 percent advantage over her in February.
"It's not surprising to me that McCain's on top because there is disarray and confusion on the Democratic side," Zogby said.
Yet more evidence, perhaps, that the outcome of the 2008 election--widely expected to go to the Democrats--cannot be taken for granted.
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Polls! 2 Comments (0 topical, 2 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
At least the contest gives us a little theater. In the past, the Republicans put up a chump for pres. candidate. The Democrats put up another chump to run against him. We get to choose between 2 chumps that none of us really like. It was always so boring.
How is this for a scenario? Billary and Obama go down to the wire. One gets picked and the other bolts the party with all his/her supporters. The Democrat party effectively is no more, but is a white Dem. party and a black Dem. party. McCain, coasting to certain victory, falls gravely ill or dies, and is unable to continue. The contest degenerates into a 3 way duel and no one gets the college majority. The election goes to congress and the best wheeler/dealer wins. Laugh if you want to, but A. Jackson lost such a duel.
If McCain can win FL (which he should) along with either PA or MI, I think he's got it sewn up.