Poll: Obama drops 12 points, McCain now leads but within MoE

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

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.

...

"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."

...

The dip in support for Obama ... cut across demographic and ideological lines. He slipped among Catholics, born-again Christians, women, independents and younger voters.

...

The telephone poll of 1,089 likely voters had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNew...0080820?sp=true

[Ban Hammer 13,349]

remains to be seen if this is meaningful.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

remains to be seen if this is meaningful.

of course.

[no name 1]

[HAL 9000 96]

Catharsis anyone?

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

Did you get my message earlier?

[Peikko 1,575]

Haven't we had this election yet? I am guessing a lot of he electorate are just bored and Barack will suffer from the malaise more than McCain because of the nature of his support (young people are just so flighty!)

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think the only polls that really matter at this point are the ones that ask whether voters think this country is going in the wrong direction. Those polls are pretty telling just as to who they most likely will vote for.

[Dan J 277]

There is also an aspect of advertising. McCain opted for public financing, which means he cannot spend the money he raised in the primary season once he officially becomes the Republican candidate. He has to burn it up now or lose it. And he has, all the tv ads I've seen have been McCains.

Obama is not limited to that restriction. Leaving him with alot of money to spend when the ads will really matter, in the final few weeks leading up to the election.

Edited August 20, 2008 by Dan + Gemvita

[HAL 9000 96]

There is also an aspect of advertising. McCain opted for public financing, which means he cannot spend the money he raised in the primary season once he officially becomes the Republican candidate. He has to burn it up now or lose it. And he has, all the tv ads I've seen have been McCains.

Obama is not limited to that restriction. Leaving him with alot of money to spend when the ads will really matter, in the final few weeks leading up to the election.

True observation Dan... I wonder if McCain could shift his ads to more positive ones instead of pandering to the lie-to-viewers tendency of negative campaigning. I mean, he's gotta use up that cash now.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I wonder if McCain could shift his ads to more positive ones instead of pandering to the lie-to-viewers tendency of negative campaigning.

Why would he? Negative ads work.

Remember, the GOP destroyed Kerry with negative ads in August, they destroyed Gore in August too. Neither of them fought back with the ferocity required.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I find it utterly amazing that 20 second ads make that much difference. We're not talking about persuading people to buy a certain car...this is about voting for the next President. I'd like to meet the voters who are so easily swayed by political ads...maybe beat the stupid right out of them.

Edited August 20, 2008 by Jabberwocky

[HAL 9000 96]

I wonder if McCain could shift his ads to more positive ones instead of pandering to the lie-to-viewers tendency of negative campaigning.

Why would he? Negative ads work.

Remember, the GOP destroyed Kerry with negative ads in August, they destroyed Gore in August too. Neither of them fought back with the ferocity required.

Yeah why tell the truth... such a nasty concept.

Destruction is the name of their game I guess.

I find it utterly amazing that 20 second ads make that much difference. We're not talking about persuading people to buy a certain car...this is about voting for the next President. I'd like to meet the voters who are so easily swayed by political ads...maybe beat the stupid right out of them.

Unfortunately, I just think they reinforce something the Republicans are really good at... lying and making voters feel afraid of not voting for them. AS opposed to the Democrats... lying and making voters feel like they're doing the country a favor.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I wonder if McCain could shift his ads to more positive ones instead of pandering to the lie-to-viewers tendency of negative campaigning.

Why would he? Negative ads work.

Remember, the GOP destroyed Kerry with negative ads in August, they destroyed Gore in August too. Neither of them fought back with the ferocity required.

Yeah why tell the truth... such a nasty concept.

Destruction is the name of their game I guess.

The name of the game is winning.

If you don't win, no one cares how you played the game.

Fact of life.

[HAL 9000 96]

I wonder if McCain could shift his ads to more positive ones instead of pandering to the lie-to-viewers tendency of negative campaigning.

Why would he? Negative ads work.

Remember, the GOP destroyed Kerry with negative ads in August, they destroyed Gore in August too. Neither of them fought back with the ferocity required.

Yeah why tell the truth... such a nasty concept.

Destruction is the name of their game I guess.

The name of the game is winning.

If you don't win, no one cares how you played the game.

Fact of life.

Perhaps that's why voter apathy is also a fact of life in this country.