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Obama's Favorite Number
October 20, 2008 5:34 PM
Here is Barack Obama's favorite number right now: 49 percent of likely voters say he is the best candidate to handle an unexpected crisis. Only 45 percent of likely voters say that about McCain, according to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll.
What a difference four months makes.
In early July when voters were asked this question, McCain led Obama 51 - 42 percent as the candidate best able to handle an unexpected crisis -- a nine point lead for McCain.
That number swelled in early September to a 17 percentage point lead for McCain over Obama -- 54 - 37 percent among likely voters -- in the days following the Republican convention and McCain's selection of vice presidential nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Unless McCain can get that number back, it's hard to see how he can catch up.
Obama is now leading John McCain 53 - 44 percent among likely voters, according to the latest ABC/Post tracking poll.
The overall race is essentially unchanged from last week's ABC/Post poll, which found Obama leading McCain 53 to 43 percent.
While Obama continues to have the wind at his back in the presidential race, McCain has eroded Obama's lead on voters' perceptions of who better understands Americans' economic problems.
Last week Obama led McCain by 31 percentage points on which candidate better understands economic problems; this week Obama leads McCain by 19 points.
However Obama continues to lead McCain 55-39 percent in trust to handle the economy overall -- a 16 point advantage on a critical issue for voters.
Obama also leads McCain 50 32 percent on having presented the clearer economic plan.
Despite McCain's invocation of Joe the Plumber to drive his attack against Obama's tax plan, Obama continues to lead McCain by 10 points in trust to deal with taxes.
Obama also leads McCain on honesty, trustworthiness, and the candidate who represents voters' "personal values."
One of McCain's biggest challenges has been separating himself from President George W. Bush, who supports from record low approval ratings.
The poll found McCain's declaration, "I am not President Bush," during his third and final debate may have helped him a bit on that front.
For the first time, less than half of voters -- 49 percent -- believe McCain would continue in Bush's direction, inching McCain lower than last week's 52 percent of likely voters who believe McCain would be Bush 2.0.
McCain also gained nine points in backers who are "very" enthusiastic about his candidacy. But Obama's enthusiastic supporters soar to 64 percent of likely voters compared to McCain's 40 percent.
Obama's so-called enthusiasm gap could be fatal for McCain on Election Day. In 2000 Bush's likely voters were more enthusiastic than former Vice President Al Gore's 55 to 46 percent.
In 2004 Bush's likely voters were more enthusiastic than Sen. John Kerry's, D-Mass., 55 to 46 percent.
With two weeks left in the campaign, Obama has a 24-point enthusiasm advantage over McCain which could help him with the get-out-the-vote effort in key battleground states.
--George Stephanopoulos
October 20, 2008 in Barack Obama, Democrats Vote 2008, John McCain, Polls, Republicans Vote 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (322)
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Obama's favorite number....hmmm....666...LOL sorry couldn't resist, I don't really mean it, but it is funny.
Posted by: samhiguchi | Oct 20, 2008 5:39:58 PM
Independents don't like negative erratic behavior and that's all that's coming from McCain/Palin. What's even worse is his pick of her as VP shows just how poor his judgment is for the country.
Posted by: JR | Oct 20, 2008 5:41:04 PM
McCain's favorite number is 72, his age and Palin's IQ.
Posted by: JR | Oct 20, 2008 5:42:16 PM
That isn't very surprising. I knew that people were hesitant about Obama because of the smear campaign, but once they saw him for themselves and realized how ludicrous all that was, he would start doing very well.
Posted by: jock59801 | Oct 20, 2008 5:42:31 PM
Every McCain ad I see on TV is an insult to the viewer`s intelligent and that has a lot to say about the candidate`s judgment.
His choice of VP is even worse given the fact that she knows nothing about domestic and foreign policy and still feels confident about it.
There`s not a single reason why, after running the country to the ground, McCain and his republican party expect us to be stupid enough to reward them with another 4 years.
Heck of a job.
Posted by: Krista | Oct 20, 2008 5:50:20 PM
I would think Barack's favorite number would be 51 - as 51% of the VOTE to WIN!
John McCain can have number 49, if he wants.
Posted by: Independant American Woman | Oct 20, 2008 5:50:44 PM
McCain's favorite number is 72, his age and Palin's IQ.---------------That was pretty funny. Polls dont mean a lot but electorial votes and map do and Obama is clearly winning.
Posted by: CW | Oct 20, 2008 5:52:05 PM
samhuguchi: NEVER put an angel in the same bracket as the evil... NOT so funny...
Posted by: Independant American Woman | Oct 20, 2008 5:53:13 PM
I want a president that is smart, steady, has new ideas and good judgment(Obama) as opposed to McCain who is erratic, lacks judgment and agrees with Bush 90% of the time.
Posted by: keith | Oct 20, 2008 5:53:33 PM
GEORGE W BUSH-BEN LADENS FAVORITE NUMBERS--$800 BILLION--FAILOUT------HOW MANY OF YOU PEOPLE KNOW--THEY HAD TO TAKE DOWN COUNTER--BECAUSE THEY RAN OUT DIGITS---DURING CLINTONS TERM THEY TOOK DOWN COUNTER BECAUSE HE HAD SURPLUS----DOES THAT TELL ANY ONE ANY THING??????HAS AIG INVITED ANY OF YOU TO THE SPA...HOW MANY OF YOU PEOPLE KNOW THEY COULD HAVE GAVE EACH AMERICA $250.000 DOLLARS AND TAXED IT--THAT WOULD HAVE LEFT US ALL A NICE NEST EGG---THAT WOULD HAVE STARTED UP THIS COUNTRY AGAIN-WAKE UP PEOPLE---IN GOD WE TRUST--WHO DOES GOD TRUST???--IS THIS THE MEANING THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL??????????????????
GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL--FATCATS HAVE WON AGAIN--GREEDOM GREEDOM IS NEW BATTLE CRY--FREEDOM HAS BEEN OVER THROWN---GOD SPEED TO US ALL AS WE WATCH THIS COUNTRY FALL------TAKE CARE
Posted by: Michael Mooneyham | Oct 20, 2008 5:58:41 PM
Say Pres. Obama and get used to it.
Posted by: keith | Oct 20, 2008 6:00:06 PM
PAPERLESS ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES ALREADY FLIPPING VOTES FROM OBAMA TO MCCAIN IN EARLY VOTING IN WEST VIRGINIA___TrueVote.US’ Urges Independent Testing of Machines and Voting on Paper Ballots Counted By Optical Scan Machines____http://truevote.us/nucleus/index.php?itemid=303
Posted by: allen_osuno | Oct 20, 2008 6:00:16 PM
Obama is the right man at the right time.
McCain = FAIL
Posted by: Ed from MA | Oct 20, 2008 6:01:16 PM
I am a white 67 year old woman and I have voted early for Obama/Biden. John McCain and Sarah Palin make me sick-the way that all they want to talk about is faulting Senator Obama. McCain should have had more sense than to pick someone like Sarah Palin as his running mate-all she talks about is faulting Senator Obama--not ONCE have I heard her make any sense about our situation and problems we are having in America-it is always Senator Obama wants this, Senator Obama wants that---She is entirely out of her league and for Americans to even think about voting for McCain/Palin--you need to get your head out of your A--! We have serious problems and Sarah Palin goes on SNL-making a fool of herself, wink! wink! as usual, and John McCain, just smiling and changing directions, noone really knows what he stands for!
Posted by: lola | Oct 20, 2008 6:01:38 PM
Voting has already started in a number of states. Lines are LOOOOOOONG. Be prepared to wait it out, Obama supporters. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a lawn chair, snacks, drinks, a book, music (played softly). No excuses for not showing up. We've got to do it this time.
Obama/Biden '08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: counting crows | Oct 20, 2008 6:02:29 PM
Obama's own VP doesn't think he's experienced! Geeze!!!
Posted by: Jeanie | Oct 20, 2008 6:06:00 PM
McCain is like a one-legged man in an a**kicking contest. He just cant win.
Posted by: JoeShmoe | Oct 20, 2008 6:12:18 PM
Yes this poll was taken at ACORN headquarters.
Posted by: Mack | Oct 20, 2008 6:21:23 PM
Too bad Biden said Obama would be hit with be faced with a global crisis in his first six months! :)
And, Biden is in worse shape than McCain!
But, it would be midnight in America if Obama/Biden stole this election! :(
Remember: "Reveille for Radicals" and "Rules for Radicals" by the Marxist Saul Alinsky, Obama's most favored tutor!
Obama is a socialist in the Marxist vein! This “citizen of the world” a line he took from a Saul Alinsky book, would step over a weakened America on his way to strengthening a global group, like the United Nations, but with real power! :(
Obama always overreaches, and he has his arrogant, lust for power, antenna focused on a world dictator position.
Posted by: aware2u | Oct 20, 2008 6:21:34 PM
"But, it would be midnight in America if Obama/Biden stole this election! :(
Remember: "Reveille for Radicals" and "Rules for Radicals" by the Marxist Saul Alinsky, Obama's most favored tutor!'
We're standing at the edge of the abyss.
Posted by: Mack | Oct 20, 2008 6:23:55 PM
sheeeze.. they LOSE some distance and immediately launch into cumbaya..
PLEASE God.. don't let a once dignified country be dominated by smurfs..
Oblamer's goin DOWN. Yes, he can.
Posted by: zak | Oct 20, 2008 6:24:13 PM
I am voting for Senator Obama/Senator Biden....We americans are in SERIOUS TROUBLE and we all GOT TO PULL TOGETHER...TO MAKE AMERICA A GREAT COUNTRY AGAIN; TO SAVE OUR SAVINGS, OUR HOMES, JOBS, ECT.....GO OBAMA GO
Posted by: Della1 | Oct 20, 2008 6:24:36 PM
Today I voted for Barack Obama and mailed my ballot. It felt great ... "just do it"!
Posted by: sawrad | Oct 20, 2008 6:25:56 PM
I think everyone should read some of Thomas Sowell's articles. He is an African-American journalist and he wrote an article today about McCain's negative advertising. He has also done a 4 part series of articles on Obama that are quite interesting. You can read all of his articles on www.creators.com
Posted by: USAfan | Oct 20, 2008 6:26:13 PM
To Independant American Woman who posted:
"NEVER put an angel in the same bracket as the evil..."
Didn't you know that satan comes as an angel of light?
Posted by: aware2u | Oct 20, 2008 6:26:20 PM
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