In the past couple of weeks John McCain has been falling steadily farther back behind Barack Obama in the national polls. A recent CBS/ New York Times poll revealed that Obama has now opened up a 14 point lead over McCain, which is monumental (Obama-53 McCain-39). The article featured in the New York Times suggests that McCain may in fact be the cause of his own problems. The article states that "The top two reasons cited for the change of heart are McCain's attacks on Obama and his choice of Sarah Palin as running mate" (CBS News, "Poll: Obama Opens 14-Point Lead on McCain").
This is an interesting situation for McCain, because, as it stands now, Obama's lead appears to be insurmountable. This lead seems even more daunting when it becomes apparent that the reasons for this significant gap are stemming from McCain and his vice presidential pick. These issues that are plaguing McCain in the polls are not easy, quick fixes. Unfortunately for McCain, it would appear that his attempt to skew the political narrative in his favor backfired and he is now being burned by the flame that he lit. As the saying goes, the numbers don't lie, and at this moment the numbers are telling a sad, lonely tale for McCain.
Sources:
CBS News, "Poll: Obama Opens 14-Point Lead On McCain", http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/14/opinion/polls/main4522273.shtml?source=mostpop_story, October 14, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
This trend of losing in the polls is probably going to continue after Wednesday's debate, as his performance did nothing to solve the problems you highlighted - his negativity and his choice of Palin. In the debate, his only tactic was to attack and accuse Obama for an hour and a half - just sickening. Then, on the abortion issue, he probably lost the women he tried to pick up with Palin, with his comment about "the health of a mother". And Palin definitely can't help him spin that - her abortion views are, if anything, more conservative than his. I'd say he's done for.
Polls can be very misleading. No one should get too comfortable yet, even though it does look bad for McCain. It's one thing to vote in a poll and another thing to actually vote and then there are the voters unaccounted for in the polls.
Yes the polls are pointing Obama, but I think many Obama supporters should be wary that because of the increasing gap, many won't vote in the actual election and lessen this lead. Plus, we still have to deal with voting issues such as faulty machines, inconvenience, and the thousands of democratic voters McCain has tried to eliminate with registration faults.
Post a Comment