JK poll margin greater than Obama in MA!

[MBS]

See TPM polltracker: http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/polltracker/

MA-Pres
Oct 29 SurveyUSA
Obama (D) 56%, McCain (R) 39%

MA-SEN
Oct 29 SurveyUSA
Kerry (D) 58%, Beatty (R) 34%

[Luftmensch067]

1. This is what I love to see!

Let's hope! I would love to see that nothing, Beatty, go down in dust (he doesn't even deserve flames! :-))

[Mass]

2. Happy to see that Question 1 is heavily rejected.

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=3d3e8e07-a4a1-4168-8f1e-4b8ecb26215a

Who are the idiots who think that getting rid of the income tax will help (aside Beatty)

The gap is even larger in the Suffolk Poll a few days ago.

[karynnj]

3. It was telling that in the second debate, Beatty tried to move away from it

Saying that because "it would be ignored", it was symbolic. Therefore he was still for it. (No wonder he spent the time when he was repeatedly asked about what he would have done instead of the bailout spreading lies about Senator Kerry. He really has NO idea what to say.

This after making the strange case that it would stimulate the economy and that "other states" functioned without a state income tax.

[beachmom]

4. Well, part of the reason Kerry is doing better is not good news at all.

The race factor in Massachusetts.

I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, but you can't discount prejudice for why Kerry is polling higher. We know of at least one voter who felt this way and was willing to tell a reporter; there must be others.

Look I am all for a great vote of confidence for John Kerry. But I think somebody needs to delve into the internals to find how many "race sensitive" voters are pulling the lever for Kerry (who is pretty liberal, obviously), but voting for McCain/Palin. That is the most bizarre ticket split ever unless you factor in race.

[Mass]

5. Not only race. The experience factor as well. Remember that many moderates

will not vote for Beatty because he is totally inexperienced. The endorsement of the Boston Herald and some other papers who did not endorse Kerry in 2004 said clearly they wanted a senator that was experienced and influential. Kerry is all that.

The other point is that some people in MA believe that power should be balanced between the two parties, which explains how we elect so many Republican governors.

Sure, there are some racists as everywhere else, but it is not the only factor explaining the difference between the two races (which, in this poll, is not meaningful given that the variations are more or less within the MOE). That Beatty is only 5 points behind McCain while McCain is well liked in MA is really bad news for Beatty.

[beachmom]

6. The party split factor is a compelling argument. Not so with experience, unless

that voter puts foreign policy above the economy. McCain has no experience with economics. Also, with him being 72, Palin is thoroughly unqualified and inexperienced, which really hurts McCain for "experience voters".