Posted on 10/20/2008 3:12:43 PM PDT by Chet 99
Election 2008: Florida Presidential Election
McCain 49%, Obama 48% in Florida
Monday, October 20, 2008
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The presidential race in Florida is now essentially even. The latest Fox News/Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds John McCain ahead of Barack Obama 49% to 48%.
Support for the GOP nominee is at the highest level in the past five polls of the state. Last week, Obama held a 51% to 46% lead. He led by seven points in the Fox/Rasmussen poll the week before.
The tighter race in Florida is consistent with national polling, which has tightened up over the past week. The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll has generally shown Obama up by four or five points nationally during the past week. Prior to that, Obama had consistently enjoyed a five-to-eight point lead.
The match-up is just as close among unaffiliated voters in Florida, with McCain holding a 46% to 45% edge. The Republican now leads 50% to 45% among men, while Obama holds onto a 51% to 48% lead among women (see full demographic crosstabs).
Eighty-five percent (85%) of Florida voters say they are certain who they will vote for in November, while just 15% say there is good chance they can still change their minds.
McCain is viewed favorably by 58% and unfavorably by 41%. Obama’s numbers in Florida are 53% favorable, 45% unfavorable.
While voters trust McCain more than Obama overall by a 47% to 45% margin, the candidates are tied at 47% when it comes to trust on the top issue of the economy and jobs. McCain still has the edge on national security, 55% to 41%.
Nearly half of Florida voters (49%) believe Obama does not have the right experience to be president, while 41% say he does have the right experience. However, more than a third (34%) of voters says they would be extremely comfortable with him in office, while 38% say they would not be comfortable at all.
Most voters in Florida (68%) think McCain does have the right experience for the job, compared to just 20% who believe the opposite. Still, just 28% say they would be extremely comfortable with McCain in office, while 31% say they would not be comfortable at all.
Though both candidates have promised to bring real change to Washington, 40% of Florida voters say only Obama is capable of following through on that promise, while just 29% say that of McCain. Another 18% say both of them are capable of bringing real change to the Capitol, while just 9% say neither candidate can.
If faced with one of life’s toughest decisions, 48% of voters in Florida say they would ask McCain for advice, while 45% would turn to Obama.
Eighty-three percent of voters in Florida (83%) say they are extremely interested in the election at this point, while just 1% say they have no interest.
Florida has been carried by the Republican presidential candidates in eight out of the last 10 elections, most notably in 2000 when it took a month to determine that George W. Bush was the winner. In 2004, Bush easily defeated Democrat John Kerry 52% to 47%. The closeness of the 2000 race, however, has given Florida the reputation of being a so-called swing state.
I’m less worried about OH and FL than I am about VA, CO, and NC.
If McCain loses VA and CO, but wins FL, OH, and PA, we’re still on top.
Florida’s got a lot of retired military - and they’ll vote. McCain’s gonna take Florida.
McCain/Palin are going to win this election.
Wasnt Bush behind in Fl at this point, last time around?????
Bttt
I think we stay even with the Senate seats.
I’d put money on the traditionally red states like VA and CO staying red. I think in the end they will, and we won’t need PA. I’m not convinced PA will do the right thing in the end. They are too programed to vote Dem...like robots or sheep.
PA will be rat again this year...watch and see.
They’ve been called bitter clingers, racists, and now rednecks, but like an abused spouse, they’ll return to the abuser in the end due to low self esteem.
Well of course Obama will carry the Jewish vote in Florida, they are mostly all liberal ex-northeasterners.
However, I bet he gets a lot less than Kerry did.
McCain will win these swing states by a comfortable margin.
You heard it here 4th.
There will be plenty of time to discuss how the
“pollls” were so horribly wrong.
I look forward to those threads.
;-)
I don’t care much for polls but when they reflect my hopes and prayers, I love them! Polls tend to twist in the wind like a kite on blustery day. I just hope no matter what the polls say, everyone will get out and vote on election day for McCain! We’re up against Mickey Mouse, Sponge Bob, and dead people as well as the loony-tune left of lefters.
Pray for our military and elect the best Commander-in-Chief on the ticket. McCAIN!
Fortunately, they won't be showing up to vote:)
I apologize in advance for my ignorance, but what do these polling weights mean?
There are more Democrats nationally, are there more in FLA?
Or does this mean it is a unrepresentative sample?
No way Sponge Bob goes for Obama. Plankton...maybe...
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