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5 reasons why McCain has pulled ahead
Politico ^ | 9/14/08 | Mikey_1962

Posted on 09/14/2008 5:27:17 AM PDT by Mikey_1962

John McCain’s surge in the polls comes even as Barack Obama has inherited the most favorable Democratic environment since the Watergate era—an unpopular Republican president, an unpopular war and a flagging economy.

Suddenly, though, Democrats have found themselves in a world turned upside down, where Republicans have the momentum from running on change—and the latest wunderkind of presidential politics.

Below are five trends showing up in polling that help explain the change.

1. McCain as a ‘change agent’

Eight in ten Americans say they believe the country is on the wrong track. Obama has built his campaign on the perception that he is both the personification of change and the man to enact it.

2. The center shifts: Independents move to McCain

Independent voters, and particularly white independent men, have leaned Republican in presidential races since 1980. But before the Republican convention, Galllup polling showed just 40 percent of independents favoring McCain.

3. The economic gap narrows

James Carville, who coined the catchphrase “the economy, stupid” in 1992 while working as a strategist for Bill Clinton, frets that Obama is losing his ownership of the issue that has become voters’ foremost concern in recent months.

4. Palin narrows the enthusiasm gap

The Republican base, once disenchanted, has returned with a vengeance since McCain’s surprise pick of the first-term Alaska governor as his running mate.

5. Democrats voter ID edge dulls

Democrats have been relying on their newfound advantage in party identification all year. Party ID remains the best single indicator of voter support.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: electionpresident; mccainpalin
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All subject to change with the debates; but usually people have made up their minds by then.
1 posted on 09/14/2008 5:27:17 AM PDT by Mikey_1962
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To: Mikey_1962
4. Palin narrows the enthusiasm gap

That should be #1, right there!

2 posted on 09/14/2008 5:30:31 AM PDT by markomalley (Extra ecclesiam nulla salus)
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To: Mikey_1962

1) Sarah Palin
2) Sarah Palin
3) Sarah Palin
4) Sarah Palin
5) Sarah Palin

Did I mention Sarah Palin?


3 posted on 09/14/2008 5:30:53 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Chicken counting time starts Nov. 5.)
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets

Yeah, I was going to say—at least 4 of those 5 reasons must be Sarah!


4 posted on 09/14/2008 5:32:57 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets

One of those 5 should be Palin Derangement Syndrome, which is leading some people to the other side just because of the tone of voice or level of hatred.


5 posted on 09/14/2008 5:35:56 AM PDT by Bernard (If you always tell the truth, you never have to remember exactly what you said.)
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To: Mikey_1962

6 posted on 09/14/2008 5:36:03 AM PDT by TornadoAlley3 ('GOP' : Get Our Petroleum)
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets

I would list Obama as at least 2 of the reasons why McCain has pulled ahead

And Joe “stand up Chuck” O Biden as another 2 reasons


7 posted on 09/14/2008 5:36:59 AM PDT by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets
1) Sarah Palin 2) Sarah Palin 3) Sarah Palin 4) Sarah Palin 5) Sarah Palin Did I mention Sarah Palin?

As if there are 4 other reasons. Palin just sucked the wind completely out of Obama's convention speech that the media was having an orgasmic reaction to.

8 posted on 09/14/2008 5:37:13 AM PDT by Always Right (Obama: more arrogant than Bill Clinton, more naive than Jimmy Carter, and more liberal than LBJ.)
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To: Mikey_1962

1. The pick of Palin
2. The media smearing of Palin
3. The speech of Palin
4. McCain’s speech (more effective than most think)
5. Obama being exposed for who he is (chitown thug)

Game over.


9 posted on 09/14/2008 5:37:40 AM PDT by nhwingut
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To: Mikey_1962

I thnk the economy is the main issue. When Obama promises to cut taxes for 95% of the country and spend trillions on government programs even someone with a 2nd grade education can do the math.


10 posted on 09/14/2008 5:42:35 AM PDT by yazoo
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To: Mikey_1962

Agree with you - but would add another:

Wrongly slinging the “racist” term around doen’t have any effect - they tried it - every orifice of the lefty media proclaimed that voting for anyone not named Obama was a racist - did not work.

I give Sarah Palin credit for that - she seems to get everyone “over” that bs - she is the antidote for lefty, elitist, we’ll tell you what to do, venom.


11 posted on 09/14/2008 5:43:36 AM PDT by palomonte (see the light or feel the heat)
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To: Always Right

Obama’s speech was a missed opportunity. Not a disaster, but it almost certainly won him no new admirers. Unlike a certain plucky northwestern governor on the under ticket.


12 posted on 09/14/2008 5:44:02 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Chicken counting time starts Nov. 5.)
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets

You’ve gotta love her. McCain looked over the field of VP candidates and couldn’t help noticing one was a big gold nugget. Advice to McCain: Don’t meddle with what works, just let Sarah be Sarah. Make sure she visits all the battle ground states. Two months, not much time. Make it work! Take that, Oprah!


13 posted on 09/14/2008 5:58:03 AM PDT by hershey
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets

If you analyze McCain’s appearance at Saddleback, he was plain spoken, spoke from the heart and blew Obama away. Sarah does the same thing. No amount of phony Greek columns and rock star type appearances can hide the fact that O is bad news. People will show up en masse for free food and music, but they’ll pull the lever for McCain and Palin.


14 posted on 09/14/2008 6:01:37 AM PDT by hershey
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To: silverleaf

It is more than clear that WalMart is a code word putdown coming from the brilliant minds of the Obama campaign, yet a drive through the parking lot of my nearest Walmart will find plenty of Mercedes, Lexus,and BMWs among the “redneck” driven Escalades, Navigators, Cadillacs, Lincolns and other “lower class” transportation.

I predict a rash of “Sarah” bumper stickers on those BMWs any day now.


15 posted on 09/14/2008 6:02:12 AM PDT by billhilly (I was republican when republican wasn't cool. (With an apology to Barbara Mandrell.))
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To: palomonte

Cindy McCain has to take a lot of credit for racism not sticking. It is hard to call someone a racist who adopted a Bangla baby.


16 posted on 09/14/2008 6:21:20 AM PDT by Bertram3
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To: Bertram3

I agree...she’s part of it as well - but there’s something about Sarah that gets us over it.


17 posted on 09/14/2008 6:23:51 AM PDT by palomonte (see the light or feel the heat)
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To: TornadoAlley3

That’s nice! Ok to steal?


18 posted on 09/14/2008 6:25:58 AM PDT by kanawa (http://www.canadalovessarah.ca/)
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To: hershey
From day one I thought Obama was an empty suit, like our own governor Coupe Deval. I thought either of them was eligible for the Chauncey Gardner sound alike award. And they do share the same speech writer.

In those rare moments when Obama actually reveals himself, he shows himself to be little more than a garden (that word again!) variety, standard issue, race and class mongering Democratic Party hack.

Obama is an odd man, a deracinated individual, with no strong self identity, he has tried to create one by plundering the legacy of American slaves, with whom he shares no bond of ancestry and only the most incidental racial affinity.

When one studies the words of politicians of high principle, Abraham Lincoln for instance, one finds that behind their eloquence there lies deeper truths, wisdom and passion. Behind the words of Mr. Obama, lies little more than empty rhetoric, stripped of import, words that ring hollow, because they are not backed by any passion stronger than a desire for self aggrandizement.

I'm just sayin’, ya know?

19 posted on 09/14/2008 6:28:06 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Chicken counting time starts Nov. 5.)
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To: kanawa

sure!


20 posted on 09/14/2008 6:34:11 AM PDT by TornadoAlley3 ('GOP' : Get Our Petroleum)
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