New Poll Tells Stories Behind State Voters' Opinions (McCain leads 52%-41% in West Virginia)

The State Journal ^

[No Dems 2004]

The West Virginia Wesleyan College Poll for The State Journal shows Republican John McCain with a double-digit lead in West Virginia in the presidential campaign. Story by Ann Ali Email | Bio | Other Stories by Ann Ali

While polls pop up with numbers attempting to predict a presidential winner, the West Virginia Wesleyan College poll for The State Journal tracks the profiles behind the numbers.

The poll, conducted this week by Orion Strategies, questioned 600 "likely voters," with emphasis placed on duplicating the West Virginia electorate as closely as possible in regard to party affiliation, age, gender and district distribution.

The poll asked for whom voters would vote if the November election took place today, and 51.7 percent of those polled responded they would vote for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

The Democratic candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., received 40.7 percent of the poll's respondents, with 4.5 percent answering "neither" and 3.2 percent responding they were unsure. Some national polls show Obama ahead.

The poll also asked who voters would select had Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., been the Democratic nominee; 52 percent said they would vote for Clinton.

[No Dems 2004]

John McCain is looking very good in this state that voted for Bill Clinton twice by big margins. Note that the poll found that Hillary would be getting 52% of the vote if she were the nominee, proving that the Dems wrote this state off the moment they nomindated Obama.

And to also show a problem that is helping to nail Obama in the South, catch this tidbit:

"When asked what accurately represents Obama's religious beliefs, 49 percent of those polled believed he was a denomination other than Christian. Obama describes himself as a Christian."

If half the electorate in a swing state like West Virginia sees you as a heathen, you're in trouble.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

They don’t believe him about being a Christian, and yet...

“Guns have become an important issue for Barack Obama’s campaign. Starting around the Pennsylvania primary, Obama and his campaign surrogates began strenuously assuring gun owners that he supports gun ownership, and it appears to be paying off. “ (Fox News, from: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2089708/posts)

...and yet Obama bin Biden can blatantly lie about their anti gun rights positions, and people are fooled.

[Loyalist]

West Virginia ceased to be a swing state in 2000. It is now a reliable red state.

Demographics in West Virginia have become increasingly unfavourable to the Democrats. The same trend is emerging in the Rust Belt states with the same demographics (older, white, blue-collar) outside the major cities.

Were it not for the major cities, those states would be at least leaning Republican.

[fortheDeclaration]

With 20% of Hillary voters saying they are not going to vote Obama, I don’t see how Obama has a chance.

[itsthejourney]

Throw validity into the mix and you'll see the alphabets emplode.

[Theodore R.]

Oprah’s Obama would do well in WV if he would hitch himself to that popular Jay Rockefeller, who is far better liked in WV than I think his uncles were in NY and AR. People in WV believe in Jay Rockefeller AND Robert C. Byrd (an alias) too.

[Theodore R.]

Yes, wasn’t it Mark Twain who wrote about the gullibility of the American people so long ago? When a person believes in Oprah’s Obama, he really is no longer in charge of himself. He “cain’t hep it”, as the late Ann W. Richards would have said.

[goldstategop]

Obama is behind in NH and he's now tied in MI. Despite weeks of campaigning he keeps falling behind. You're not looking a winner here, no matter what national polls say. And its telling West Virginia Democrats liked Hillary Clinton but can't bring themselves to vote for Obama. I think the story is pretty similar in PA, MI and WI. Those are all states he must win. I don't think he grasps why he is in trouble with much of the country.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[No Dems 2004]

“West Virginia ceased to be a swing state in 2000. It is now a reliable red state.

Demographics in West Virginia have become increasingly unfavourable to the Democrats. The same trend is emerging in the Rust Belt states with the same demographics (older, white, blue-collar) outside the major cities.

Were it not for the major cities, those states would be at least leaning Republican.”

I agree with you, at least partially. However, the poll finds that West Virginians would be supporting Hillary right now if she were the Dem nominee, meaning that the Dems have once again nominated the wrong candidate (not to say that Hillary would have been the right one!) But Mr. O. is looking increasingly like John Kerry or Al Gore in the South - possibly worse.

[MrB]

These “emerging church” types are WORSE than heathens.

They are masquerading as Christians, but spreading a message that totally undermines Christian beliefs.