Polls: McCain strong in key Dem states

[Omaha Steve]

Source: USA Today

Arizona Sen. John McCain is running strongly in three states that have been solidly Democratic in recent presidential elections; a particular surprise is New Jersey where, a month ago, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton had a double-digit lead, according to a new round of state-by-state general election match-ups.

The series of polls by Rasmussen Reports, which included Michigan and Washington State, also underscored what most other national and state polling has found — high negatives for Clinton on favorability ratings. McCain often scores the highest favorability ratings, while Illinois Sen. Barack Obama comes out on the positive side, but by lesser margins.

Rasmussen says McCain and the Democrats are in a statistical tie in New Jersey, with McCain leading Clinton 45% to 42% and Obama by 46% to 45%, with a 4 point margin of error. A month ago, Obama ran closely with McCain but Clinton, showing strength in her neighboring state, had led McCain 50% to 39%.

Rasmussen noted that the Republicans have not carried New Jersey for 20 years, but added "in recent years, several GOP candidates have done well in spring polls only to see their hopes fade in the fall." Clinton's favorability rating — at 50% — is a little better here than in other state-by-state surveys, but it still represents a 6 point decline since the last poll. McCain's favorable rating is 61% and Obama's is 58%. The economy is cited as the top issue by 47% with only 12% rating it excellent or good. Twenty-two percent cite Iraq as the top issue, but among those, 39% believe the situation will worsen in the next six months compared to 32% who believe it will improve.



Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-04-01-polls-mccain_N.htm

[BlueManDude]

1. people here laughed at me when i said mccain would win nj.

he would crush hrc in nj.

[Thrill]

2. Lets see where it is when the Dems put the spotlight on McCain and his record

[kevinbgoode]

8. I agree. . .

And we need to make sure we aren't wimps about putting that spotlight on his record. . .nor in reminding the public of how Republicans tossed him under the bus in 2000 because of neo-con swiftboating, the same tactic used against Kerry. The public needs to know what promises McCain has had to make with the Far Right in order to assure some degree of support. . .And McSame, McSame, McSame needs to be repeated.

The media will keep repeating what a "maverick" he is. . .but conservatives are at a loss to PROVE that beyond a couple of issues.

[featherman]

3. This happened last election too regarding New Jersey where Bush

was winning in some polls over Kerry and even campaigned there to "steal" New Jersey. In the end it was DEM all the way. It's way too early for head to head polls when one side hasn't settled on a candidate. These polls are "for entertainment purposes only" at this stage

[last_texas_dem]

5. Yeah, I remember that with NJ as well

I wonder what explains that tendency on the part of NJ voters (to consider voting Repug early on and eventually come back to the Democrats?) The strangest one I remember from '04 was that poll that showed Bush within striking distance in Hawaii!

Michigan, on the other hand, is scary. That the state with the highest unemployment in the country is even considering voting for a dude who admittedly doesn't know much about the economy is just depressing. I know it was very close in '00 and '04 as well, but I just hate to see MI open to voting Repug after 8 years of Shrub.

[featherman]

10. Agree about Michigan... saw an article that seemed to show it was trending

red: going from +13 in 96 to +5 in 2000 to only +3 in 2004. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me but I'm not on the ground there. And as long as there is all this loose take about the Democratic Party "disenfranchising" Michigan voters it may become a steeper climb.

[Hawaii Hiker]

17. I remember the Hawaii poll in 2004,

from the www.electoral-vote.com site....Like a week before the 2004 election, Hawaii was turned red!...AND, Cheney even flew last minute to Honolulu to campaign....But, in the end, Hawaii went convincingly for Kerry....

I can't fathom Obama or Clinton losing NJ to that broken down, mean old pug SOB McCain.....Remember in the 2006 midterms, the Democrat Mennendez (think that's his name) was in jeopardy of losing his senate seat in NJ because of a scandal....He ended up winning NJ convincingly......

[DainBramaged]

19. The pollsters ask the wrong people, all the Thuglies who list phone numbers

With DO NOT CALL, it's harder and harder for pollsters to get accurate polls.

But this is the only pole that counts till election day.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. Maybe if we ever have an actual candidate it will be different.

McCain is running against no one right now.

[Middle finga]

6. Who are these people that they are calling? God damn you should

know what each candidate stands for by now. I just don't get it, I know it's still early and we are still in a tough primary fight but after 7 years of Bush and his party and how they have basically destroyed america. The republican candidate shouldn't even have chance, it should be a landslide in favor of the democrats. The American public really need to wake the fuck up.

[featherman]

11. As a point of interest I saw the demographic breakdown of the NBC-WSJ

poll that had Obama and McCain tied among other things. Their break down of polled voters by political philosophy was:

22% liberal or very liberal

32% moderate

37% conservative or very conservative

9% no opinion/other/no response

So that's who they are asking. Do you agree? I think 22% is a bit low for the liberal end but who knows.

[CTyankee]

21. I am certain this is because of the wrangling between our top two candidates.

Once we decide on one we can get on with the GE campaign. Until then, McCain will continue to make headway. That is what is so frightening about the current state of affairs in the Dem Party.

However, we can and should win this one, if we're settled on one candidate sooner rather than later...

[pattmarty]

7. This is definitely something to be concerned about, but lets not panic, YET.

[Zorra]

9. Al Gore has to throw his hat into the ring. We have two candidates with

serious electability issues, and our country cannot afford 4 years with a neocon fascist in the WH.

[Blue_State_Elitist]

12. LOL

[Zorra]

24. A weak, 72 yr old republican candidate should be 20 points behind

either presumptive Democratic candidate at this time.

The republican party is in extreme disfavor with the American people, and any Dem candidate(s) without electability issues would be a lock to win the GE in a landslide.

That John McCain even has a chance to become president after George Bu*h is not funny to me at all.

[Catch22Dem]

13. This is a no-brainer

Nothing bad is being reported about him right now. Our two candidates are busy tearing each other down and giving McCain a free pass. Polls reflect reality.

[Lorien]

22. They're basically pitting him against a split Dem vote

plenty of Obama people swear that they would never vote for Hillary, and vice versa. I expect the polls to change (if the MSM is honest) when there's only one Democrat in the field.

[madmom]

14. wouldn't be surprised if Ohio went that way either, most the people around

here are repugs.

[Politicalboi]

15. I think it's all lies

How can McSenior who is just like Bush be so close to the Dems. The Dems have had record turn out. Each primary had double the votes of the Repigs. Like I said keep it close just in case you need to steal it.

[rocktivity]

16. Of course McCain is stronger. We haven't picked their candidate yet

and turned their guns on him.

GET THEE BEYOND ME, POLLS!
UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!!!!



x(
rocknation

[Penndems]

18. He's up thirteen points in Virginia, according to the latest Rasmussen poll

"Virginia: McCain Widens Lead Over Both Democrats", Rasmussen Reports:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/virginia/election_2008_virginia_presidential_election

[knitter4democracy]

20. He's got signs up all over Battle Creek.

He's well-liked in Michigan. I worry we're going to lose our state.

[Solly Mack]

23. I'll never again ask how any voter can be that stupid (Bush)

but WTF?

Anyone favoring McCain is either a Bush crony or a Bush-moron.