McCain's VP is...

[DanS]

Zogby reports that Obama didn't receive the traditional boost from the Dem convention, possibly due to the Palin pick.

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews1547.html

Rasmussen reports that Obama's ~ 3 percentage point convention boost was short-lived indeed. Obama's still only polling 47%.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/general_election_match_up_history

As stated, I don't like the Palin pick, but maybe McCain knows better than me.

[Asher]

Gallup has Obama up 8%.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by GePap
I would agree with you in the sense that for me policy is the primary issue. I will vote for Obama and not McCain because Obama's policy stances are FAR closer to mine than McCains.

That would mean tht their policy stances are far apart.

[DanS]

@ Asher

[Asher]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/109903/Gallup-Daily-ObamaBiden-Ticket-Leads-Points.aspx

PRINCETON, NJ -- Gallup Poll Daily tracking from Aug. 28-30, including two days of interviewing since the close of the Democratic National Convention, finds Barack Obama with a six percentage point lead over John McCain in the presidential contest, 48% to 42%.

Look at the graph...

[Darius871]

Originally posted by Asher
Gallup has Obama up 8%.

Are you looking at a different 8/31/08 Gallup report than I am?

Gallup Daily: Obama-Biden Ticket Leads by 6 Points
No further increase for Obama since before Thursday’s speech
http://www.gallup.com/poll/109903/Ga...ds-Points.aspx

[Asher]

Yes, I got the 8% from here:

http://www.usaelectionpolls.com/

Which doesn't seem to be accurate once I went to Gallup themselves.

Though down slightly from the eight-point lead Obama held mid-convention, this represents a clear improvement for the Democratic candidate's positioning in the campaign compared to a week ago when the race was about tied. The last Gallup update conducted entirely before Obama's convention and vice presidential announcement was based on interviews conducted Aug. 20-22, and showed Obama up by two points, 46% to 44%.

The convention quite clearly gave Obama a sizable bump.

[Darius871]

Even so, the fact that he's only up by thrice the margin of error after a strong convention, against a party whose president is still at a 30% approval rating, in a country with a 75% "wrong direction" score, with the country's introduction to the opponent's VP not yet finished, and with still one more convention bounce left to go, is staggering. The fact that he's not consistently slaughtering any GOP candidate by 10%+ after the convention is a ****ing embarassment beyond measure.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Darius871
Even so, the fact that he's only up by thrice the margin of error after a strong convention, against a party whose president is still at a 30% approval rating, in a country with a 75% "wrong direction" score, with the country's introduction to the GOP's VP not yet finished, and with still one more convention bounce left to go, is staggering. The fact that he's not consistently slaughtering any GOP candidate by 10% is a ****ing embarassment beyond measure.

Why is it staggering?

If it was another Bush crony running, it would be. But it's not. It's a "maverick", as the McCain campaign keeps reminding us, who never got along well with Bush in the first place. Both McCain and Obama will be welcome changes to Bush, so even with McCain in office it's not going to be "more of the same". If Bush was running for a third term somehow, your observations would be correct...but Obama isn't running against Bush.

It amuses me that apparently I understand American politics and culture more than you do since you find this all so surprising.

[Darius871]

I didn't say it's "surprising," only embarassing. People only believe he's (still) a "maverick" because the Obama campaign has failed to hammer him on the issues and persuade people otherwise. It's only a matter of perception, and they don't bother to change it.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Asher


Why is it staggering?

If it was another Bush crony running, it would be. But it's not. It's a "maverick", as the McCain campaign keeps reminding us, who never got along well with Bush in the first place. Both McCain and Obama will be welcome changes to Bush, so even with McCain in office it's not going to be "more of the same". If Bush was running for a third term somehow, your observations would be correct...but Obama isn't running against Bush.

It amuses me that apparently I understand American politics and culture more than you do since you find this all so surprising.

Nah. Even if Bush could run for another term the polling would still be close. Just because they don't approve of him doesn't mean they are going to let the dem win. It's us against them. There aren't many undecideds.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Darius871
I didn't say it's "surprising," only embarassing. People only believe he's (still) a "maverick" because the Obama campaign has failed to hammer him on the issues and persuade people otherwise. It's only a matter of perception, and they don't bother to change it.

You're right, "embarrassing" is a good word. Voting for Bush again in 2004? Embarrassing for your country. Voting for Republicans again after the past eight years? Embarrassing for your country.

I'm starting to believe maybe Mugabe's poll results for his election was actually true. I've little faith in humanity these days.

[Darius871]

Well that's obvious, but of course I mean as much of an embarassment for the DNC. Again they had this on a damned silver platter and still managed to **** up again.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Darius871
Well that's obvious, but of course I mean as much of an embarassment for the DNC. Again they had this on a damned silver platter and still managed to **** up again.

I know what you meant, but the real problem is with America. You guys are the ones voting and being polled, and you guys can't figure out when one party is ****ing up your country when everyone else can see it.

Don't blame the DNC for that. It's all on you. You have the power to vote, use it wisely. Or don't. Whatever. I live in Canada, see if I care if you die from lack of health insurance or get attacked by terrorists in 10 years from now which remember when you attacked their country and want revenge...it's a familiar story.

I watched Obama's speech and if that and the rest of the convention didn't adjust the polls massively, there's nothing else to be done. The problem is in the people of the country itself. I imagine a huge chunk of that is religion still...

[Elok]

You do realize you're saying much the same thing as Agathon did, right? Just asking.