Democrats Leading McCain, But Gap Narrows(CBS/NYT)

[RamboLiberal]

Source: CBS News

Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton hold slim leads over John McCain in a general-election match-up, according to a new CBS News poll. But McCain is doing better among independents than he was last month, and the presumptive Republican nominee has narrowed the gap between himself and Obama.

If the election were held today and Obama and McCain were the candidates, 48 percent of those surveyed say they would support Obama while 43 percent say they would support McCain. In February, Obama led McCain 50 percent to 38 percent.

If Clinton and McCain were the candidates, the New York senator receives 46 percent support to McCain's 44 percent.

In a turnaround from last month, McCain now leads both Obama and Clinton among independent voters. Obama led McCain by 10 points among this group last month, but he now trails by 8 points. Clinton trails McCain by 11 points among independents.

Obama has the highest favorable rating of the three candidates - 44 percent - followed by Clinton at 39 percent and McCain at 38 percent. Clinton, meanwhile, has the highest unfavorable rating at 41 percent, followed by McCain at 31 percent and Obama at 28 percent.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/19/opinion/polls/main3951729.shtml

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This poll was completed yesterday, meaning only a small number of interviews were conducted after Obama gave his speech on race relations on the Jeremiah Wright controversy.

The polls have been all over the place on just how badly the Wright matter hurt Obama, with this poll seeming to indicate the damage was real, but not too bad — though other polls have shown it to be somewhat worse.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. That's fine. Once we begin to point out he's senile.....

and the minute he makes a complete ass of himself in a debate, that will be the end of McCain.

[WCGreen]

5. I think all we have to do is point out he is a republican....

And then show how closely he voted with the Bush Agenda...

[polichick]

2. Thanks for the update...

It'll be okay ~ it's better that this came out now rather than later. PA will be a testing ground, as someone pointed out on Anderson Cooper's show ~ Barack was expected to lose big here anyway, so if we close the gap it'll be a good sign. I was at our Obama office tonight and it was packed with volunteers and other supporters ~ people here are still psyched!

[krkaufman]

3. What this poll shows *me* is that Hillary's praise for McCain ...

... and the heavy negativity in the Democratic campaign, has hurt the Democratic cause, overall.

Thanks, Hill.

[gulliver]

4. Hillary's unfavorable rating should be lower.

You have to figure that a substantial number of people in Hillary's unfavorable column are Democrats who are just venting. They will still vote for her if she is the nominee. Only a small fraction of them are stupid (or heartless) enough to sit out the election.

[k8conant]

6. We WON'T sit out the election; we'll vote for OBAMA...

so what difference does Hillary's unfavorable rating make?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. I suspect that once we get Obama in a debate with McCain...

And McCain loses his temper...

The nation will see just how very unsuitable he would be as CIC...

Of course, Obama will keep his cool...

:)

[AndyTiedye]

8. At Least We're Still Ahead in This Poll

But even these numbers say that if the election were held today the Repiggies would steal it.

We have to do better than this!