Good news for John McCain: He is favored overwhelmingly by Americans who think our country is headed on the right track. The bad news: That’s only 16 percent of the country, according to a new Washington Post/ABC News poll. Among the 82 percent of the public who said the country is headed in the wrong direction, Barack Obama leads McCain by more than 20 points.
So how is McCain staying close to Obama (Obama led 51 to 44 percent)? One big reason is that the country is divided on what issues are the most important. Obama holds a double-digit lead over McCain on health care, gas prices and the economy, while McCain has a 21-point lead on handling the war on terrorism.
The poll also shoots some holes in Hillary Clinton’s argument that she is the most electable. Democratic-leaning voters said that Obama had a better chance than Clinton to be elected president (62 to 26 percent). And while McCain leads Obama among lower-income white voters, McCain leads Clinton among this group by about the same amount.
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31 Comments
My theory is McCain hasn’t really been in a contest/debate with either of the dem. candidates. When that starts he’ll plummet like a rock.
Maybe McCain wants to learn ‘de’-bating skills, on how he can “be ‘fer’ something before he was ‘agin’ it.”
He’s staying close to Obama to learn “Master-de-’bate” skills.
I get a kick out of this campaign; it is kind of like watching a Batman movie.
Important issues … here is one the Democrats claim is Republican Propaganda … Now tell me which side has the least intelligence and then vote.
President Bush, who wanted to make overhauling Social Security a top priority in his second term, tapped Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to lead that effort. However, Paulson has been unable to forge a consensus with Democrats, who took control of Congress in 2006.
While the Social Security trust fund will have resources until 2014, the more critical date in terms of government revenues will occur in 2017. In that year, Social Security will start having to pay out more in benefits than it will receive that year in payroll taxes
A fiscal train wreck unless something is done.
Why is Hillary staying close to obama?
Why is mcsame staying close to obama?
Maybe because obama isnt “landslide” obama like his supporters want everyone to think?
It’s gonna be 2000 and 2004 all over again in terms of closeness and mischief. And in that scenario, obama loses in November.
Inevitability. It isnt just for the Hillary bashers anymore…
Last time around, Dems the guy seen as most electable, John Kerry.
I of course was for Howard Dean all the way. I campaigned for him in Iowa. Those woolly-heads would look up from their Sunday football game and say, “John Kerry’s more electable.”
Did John Kerry have Dean’s grassroots army? No.
Did he win? No.
Was “electable” a good criterion upon which to base support for a candidate? No.
Good thing we’re not repeating the same lesson this time around. This time, we get the person Dems really want, not the person we have to settle for.
Shanghai–
You don’t get to shanghai this thread to social security.
We’ve been over and over that ground. The problem is that the same people who said that “social security will be bankrupt in 2018″ also said that social security will be bankrupt in 1996 and 1988.
In the 1970’s, George W. himself said on the campaign trail that Social Security will be bankrupt in 1988.
McCain is not far from Obama because he is white. There are alot of racists in the USA who absolutely would hate to see a black/biracial president.
“This time, we get the person Dems really want, not the person we have to settle for.”
WTF?
So.. John Kerry won the nomination over Dean by having more delegates. In fact, Dean DROPPED out of the race.
So.. Kerry WASNT the dem the party wanted? He only locked up the nomination by a landslide, with more DELEGATES than anyone else.
You may not have gotten who you wanted, but the democratic party sure did. Look at the votes.
The shark called for you.
That may rank right up there with nonsense wingnut statements.
oh, and OBVIOUSLY Kerry was NOT the most electable.
I dont think the democrats have had a great record on picking “electable” candidates. They have a tendancy to give their nomination to unelectable people. They are following form this year too.
See also Michael Dukakis.
Geez. In fact, since thirty-two years ago when Jimmy Carter was nominated, the only person the democrats have nominated who was ELECTABLE was…
Oh yeah. That Clinton guy.
Is it because according to Rove, they’ve both fathered black children?
You are kidding right? Mc Cain is favored by 16 %, did they not get the memo? Hillary is the candidate for the dumb, white voters! Sorry but I am getting offended the way they are referring to the that segment of voters. Oh but now they are not just Dumb, white voters…. Their now the POOR, DUMB, WHITE VOTERS!
When you say it once it is a statement of fact but when you keep repeating it that is code speak!
” This time, we get the person Dems really want, not the person we have to settle for.”
Huh? Did you mean in West Virginia where Senator Clinton has just blown Obama off the map?
You CAN’T mean the final choice as to nominee.
There is an unfinished process you know.
But I don’t blame you being in a hurry. Who knows WHAT will fall out of Obama’s closet next?
Well, for those who emphasize West Virginia. Did John McCain win West Virginia? Did he place 2nd in West Virginia? Did McCain get more than 1% of the West Virginia votes? Before we decide that Obama is a gonner in West Virginia, can we think about that? It looks like Obama (with 4% reporting) has won more votes than the entire Republican field did. For that matter, John Edwards has won more votes than the entire Republican Field had won. And that was when West Virginia mattered and the race between Huckabee, McCain and Romney was still on.
McCain won about 85 percent, Huckabee about 9 and Paul about 5.
Are polls accurate? I’m being serious and would really like to hear your opinions?
Haven’t pollsters been surprised at actual results in the last few elections and even the recent primary contests?
I know they say they do something that is supposed to adjust the results for those who have only cell phones and aren’t contacted. But, does anyone really know how many people have only a cell phone?
McCain won 1% of the West Virginia vote. Huckabee won 52% of the WV vote (and all of the WV delegates) Romney won 46% of the WV vote.
It took place Feb 5 2008, if memory serves.But I double checked. Huckabee 51.55%,567 votes Romney 47.36%,521 votes McCain 1.09% 12 votes. But it was a caucus, so I guess Huckabee and Romney would have beaten Obama.
Picking up on VET’s comments - there is no realistic reason to believe that those of us who preferred another Democrat as our #1 choice will go to McBush as our #2. Although there is currently some bad blood I think you will find the Democrats uniting after this is all over. George Bush was correct when he described himself as a ‘uniter’ - he has united the Democratic Party.
Right now we do not see the spirit I saw on Caucus night here in Kansas - 100% agreement that whoever wins tonight we all walk out together against the Republicans. However, I believe that will return.
“while McCain has a 21-point lead on handling the war on terrorism.”
A good ‘military-type’ running mate will fix that. Webb perhaps?
The West Virginia Republican primary was today. McCain “won” with about 76% percent of vote.
outlander - what were the numbers? How does McCain’s 76% of the REPUBLICAN vote compare to Obama’s share of the DEMOCRATIC vote? Total numbers?
Hanghai,
Maybe a way to begin balancing the social security fund is to start auctioning off all those teapot museums and other pork butts those fiscally conservative republicans just had to spend billions on.
“You may not have gotten who you wanted, but the democratic party sure did. Look at the votes.”
By “we,” I meant the democratic wing of the democratic party.
As opposed to the DLC wing of the democratic party.
Of which the Clintons’ are founding members.
BTW, Clinton “won” in 1992, but only because Perot sucked the air out of HW’s sails. And thanks to Mr. Popularity, Newt Gingerich and his “Contract With America” thugs swept to power in 1994, including Tobacco Todd Tiahrt.
Yeah, those were good times . . .
A little late weighing in aint ya Capn?
Sore butt?
REAL deomocrats are out and about fighting.
A poster I respect a LOT more than you left the blog because of the slime YOU want to work with.
You better figure out which direction you are pointed in. Or we can all go down together.
“A poster I respect a LOT more than you”
Well, gee thanks, J R.
If you mean Steven Davis, I respect him more than me too, heh.
I think one can disagree without being disagreeable. I try to save the real insults for the CONs.
Is it too much to ask if you and KSFrmGrrl could do the same?
In my humble opinion, here’s what REAL Democrats are about:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/f8c1cf6418e6b163/6Sgh2C/VEsE/
Grassroots organizing, door-to-door, get out the vote
That’s what Obama knows how to do, that’s what he knows how to motivate people to do: organize for power, it’s the classic Alinsky model.
That’s what wins elections and changes the course of history.
Blogging btw doesn’t do $h!t except to allow one to vent.
BlueJay - let me tell you which republicans some of us want to work with. These are the ‘Kassebaum’ Republicans; not the Neo-cons who have hijacked their Party. I mentioned one of them once who stated that she would not vote for Romney because Romney indicated that ONLY Christians should be in government. Our CON friend Paul (Franklin, Econ101) said she is an idiot. THAT is the kine of Republican (called RINOs by the CONS) who Obama is reaching out to.
At one time, I was a big Kassebaum supporter. It was reduced somewhat when she sent to me (at my request) a position paper about fixing some of the election process. One of her ensorsements: Parlimiamentary style elections, where people vote the party, not the candidate. It reduced somewhat my enthusiasm for MS Kassebaum.
Other than that, it was a long time ago, and my memory has dimmed of any specifics likes or dislikes about her. I guess as I pondered about it, I am not sure if I was or was not a big Kassebaum supporter. Damn. Memory fails me again.
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