McCain takes lead over Obama: poll

United States
August 20, 2008 2:20pm CST
Are voters beginning to wisen up??? Your comments? WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a sharp turnaround, Republican John McCain has opened a 5-point lead on Democrat Barack Obama in the U.S. presidential race and is seen as a stronger manager of the economy, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday. McCain leads Obama among likely U.S. voters by 46 percent to 41 percent, wiping out Obama's solid 7-point advantage in July and taking his first lead in the monthly Reuters/Zogby poll. The reversal follows a month of attacks by McCain, who has questioned Obama's experience, criticized his opposition to most new offshore oil drilling and mocked his overseas trip. McCain now has a 9-point edge, 49 percent to 40 percent, over Obama on the critical question of who would be the best manager of the economy -- an issue nearly half of voters said was their top concern in the November 4 presidential election. Obama had opposed new offshore drilling, but said recently he would support a limited expansion as part of a comprehensive energy program. That was one of several recent policy shifts for Obama, as he positions himself for the general election battle. But Zogby said the changes could be taking a toll on Obama's support, particularly among Democrats and self-described liberals. "That hairline difference between nuance and what appears to be flip-flopping is hurting him with liberal voters," Zogby said. Obama's support among Democrats fell 9 percentage points this month to 74 percent, while McCain has the backing of 81 percent of Republicans. Support for Obama, an Illinois senator, fell 12 percentage points among liberals, with 10 percent of liberals still undecided compared to 9 percent of conservatives. Obama had opposed new offshore drilling, but said recently he would support a limited expansion as part of a comprehensive energy program. That was one of several recent policy shifts for Obama, as he positions himself for the general election battle. But Zogby said the changes could be taking a toll on Obama's support, particularly among Democrats and self-described liberals. "That hairline difference between nuance and what appears to be flip-flopping is hurting him with liberal voters," Zogby said. Obama's support among Democrats fell 9 percentage points this month to 74 percent, while McCain has the backing of 81 percent of Republicans. Support for Obama, an Illinois senator, fell 12 percentage points among liberals, with 10 percent of liberals still undecided compared to 9 percent of conservatives. http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1927197620080820?
5 responses
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
21 Aug 08
At this point, I don't think a shift in the polls one way or another counts for much. I expect to see several ups and downs before this thing is decided and I don't intend to clutch at staws. I accept that this will, barring a real bombshell, be another close election. I'm an x Hillary supporter planning to vote for Obama. Frankly, it took awhile and a lot of consideration for me to decide on a new candidate and I expect that others will need some time also.
1 person likes this
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I was leery at first but once I got past my intense anger (Still smarts) at the way Hillary was treated by the Dems, I came to the conclusion that Obama was the right choice. He makes sense on a lot of things - the environment, alternative energy etc. and I respected him for saying that taking the tax off gas for a day or two was useless tokenism. (Even Hillary was wrong on that one) A lot of what's being said and printed about him is meant to scare people and I've had it with government fear mongering. We are currently in a war we don't want and can't afford because this administration preyed on American fear after 911 and erroneously told a tale about weapons of mass destruction. Obama was one of the few in the senate who did not vote for that war and he was right. Give him another look, you might not like him but there really isn't any reason to fear him.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Aug 08
I am also an x Hillary supporter bur Obama scares crap out of me. He shrouds the real Obama behind a veil of secrecy and what I have researched shows that we will be in deep sh*it if he gets the presidency.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
20 Aug 08
I like this report for the news paper my dqaughter bought said they were tied!? and the media told that Mc Cain is now ahead . ok now we are getting 2 different stories here. think I will go read the rest of the paper lol. But am hoping that the people are finally opening thier eyes hugs
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
20 Aug 08
Rose, please show me one example of anyone here calling you any of the names you listed! I know you won't, you won't respond other than writing more of the same-old-same-old that you've repeated non-stop for months now. THAT is not calling you any name, just stating a fact anyone who has read any of your posts knows to be true. You like McCain and Fake News, I don't; that doesn't make either one of us liars, stupid or anything like that, it's a difference of opinion and someone disagreeing with your opinion shouldn't be taken as such an offensive thing. As for McCain, he's running for a public office, the biggest public office in the land, as is Obama and like you have every right to call Obama every name in the book I have the same right to state my view about McCain, war hero and former POW over 40 years ago or not. If I were to say, "Rose, you're stupid to support a liar and cheater like McCain", you'd have a right to be angry with me, but I haven't said that and I haven't read where anyone else has said that either. If someone has and I missed it please point it out to me and I'd be more than happy to post my disagreement, for what it's worth. Annie
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
20 Aug 08
Sorry Annie, I will admit I called her close minded. None of the others but, I will fully 100% admit I called her close minded, which is my opinion and it is based on the fact that I have given her documented proof of something and it is from a site that she would enjoy (pro baby) and she still refuses to believe it until Hennity spews it to her on Sunday.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
21 Aug 08
"I get my news from a media that support neither Barack Obama or John McCain and they are today reporting from number of sources Barack Obama has slipped in the polls." All right!! You finally decided to open your mind and widen your horizons and get away from that Fixed News Network! I knew you had it in you! Annie
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
23 Aug 08
This is very interesting to hear. I know we can always count on you to keep us up to date. I do believe that experience, and having a strong plan are important. It does sound as if Obama misses out at every turn. His views are unpopular with some, but if he changes them, then he is seen to be wishy washy. Thanks again for the post.
@sunshinecup (7871)
21 Aug 08
I am so tired of it the whole thing and it hasn't even gotten started in good yet, LOL. Me I don't care for either one of them really. Obama comes off fake to me and McCain is too darn far up Bushes rear in my opinion. I don't like where we have been the last eight years and don't want to stay at that point any longer, but with both of these two, I don't see anything new coming. You know?
• United States
21 Aug 08
sunshinecup you comment to the response above this one that you did not know about his stance on letting abortion babie die if they have been born alive! Here is a link to the latest on this inhumane decision by Obama. http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7012004195
@raydene (9871)
• United States
21 Aug 08
Obama blew it with the no support for aborted babies that are born alive. It's one thing for many pro abortion people to abort quite another to allow to die when born alive! He screwed up there! xoxoxoxoxoxo
21 Aug 08
What are you talking about? I have not heard anything about babies being allowed to die after birth. At least not in the news I am receiving. Can you please exsplain? Thanks
• United States
21 Aug 08
Raydene I agree.