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Stephanopoulos: No Candidate Has Ever Lost with Obama's Lead Over McCain
October 13, 2008 7:49 AM
ABC News' George Stephanopoulos reports: The presidential election is now just 22 days away, and Barack Obama is leading John McCain by a whopping 53 percent to 43 percent according to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll.
No candidate has ever lost with a lead like this since modern polling began in 1936.
Americans are in a very angry mood right now and that is helping Obama.
A record high of 90 percent of the country believes we're going in the wrong direction right now.
A vast majority of the nation, 73 percent of the country, disapproves of the job President George W. Bush is doing. No president has ever had a higher disapproval rating, not even President Richard Nixon at the height of Watergate.
Obama leads McCain 53 percent to 37 percent when it comes to the candidate voters trust to handle the nation's struggling economy, according to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll.
Obama's 10-point lead puts him on solid ground with three weeks to go before Election Day. To put this in perspective, three weeks before the 2004 election President George W. Bush has 50 percent support and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., had 46 percent, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll released on Oct. 10, 2004.
However, ultimately the 2004 election results were Bush 51 percent and Kerry 48 percent.
Some presidential candidates have closed the gap in the weeks leading up to Election Day, including Al Gore in 2000, Gerald Ford closed the gap against Jimmy Carter in 1976, and in 1980 Ronald Reagan overcame an eight point deficit to defeat Jimmy Carter. At that time it was Carter who was the unpopular president with a sour economy.
However this time, it's McCain's party with the unpopular president governing over the worst economic crisis to hit the nation since the Great Depression.
With three weeks to go before the election, McCain has an uphill battle. There are also signs that his campaign's more aggressive attacks against Obama have backfired.
A majority of Americans believe McCain is mainly attacking opponent 59 percent versus only 26 percent who say that about Obama, according to the latest ABC/Post poll.
To his credit, McCain cut off a woman at a campaign rally in Minnesota this past weekend who erroneously said Obama is "an Arab."
"I Can't trust Obama. I have read about him and he's not, he's not.. Uhm… He's an Arab ," said the woman.
McCain took the microphone back and said, "No.No Ma'am. No Ma'am. He's a … He's a decent, family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. And that's what this campaign is all about. He's not. Thank you."
McCain gave an honorable response but his campaign has unleashed a torrent of attacks and negative ads against Obama that have contributed to the idea that McCain is the more negative campaigner.
The two presidential debates have been a big boon to Obama. Over the course of those debates 32 percent of Americans think better of Obama after the debates while only 12 percent of Americans say that about McCain and 26 percent of Americans think worse of McCain after the first two presidential debates.
Wednesday's last debate at Hofstra University in New York state is really his last chance to change the minds of voters. The most important thing Obama can do in this last election is make no mistakes and continue the steady performance we've seen over the course of the first two debates.
McCain may be tempted in the last debate to go hard on the attack but that could end up hurting him more than helping him in this environment.
October 13, 2008 in McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (413)
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Breaking news, Obama has problems! Tony Rezko is now talking to the FBI about his connections to Chicago politicians! You won't hear about this from ABC news!
Posted by: J | Oct 13, 2008 7:52:46 AM
"I Can't trust Obama. I have read about him and he's not, he's not.. Uhm… He's an Arab ," said the woman.
===================================
AWWW! OUR VERY OWN NATASHA! Girl I didn't know you were from Minnesota!
Posted by: GIGI | Oct 13, 2008 8:04:01 AM
Obama has the most negative and misleading campaign ads in the history of US politics, but how come the media does not report this.
Posted by: young_voter | Oct 13, 2008 8:08:51 AM
I would like to direct everyones attention to MSNBC.com and their article about Andy Martin "The man behind the whispers about Obama" We finally have found where the lies have been coming from. He is the originator, a scurrilous and underhanded patholigical liar. This IS important people!
Posted by: SemperFi | Oct 13, 2008 8:10:35 AM
We've now suffered 20 years of Lee Atwater style politics. Bush won twice by sharply dividing America. The McCain campaign, run by the same Bush/Rove Atwater disciples that spread disgusting rumors about McCain in S. Carolina in 2000 are running this campaign.
The LAST thing we need is division in this country. If nothing else happens, pray that this type of divisive politics is over -
Palin, GO HOME.
Posted by: Steve from NH | Oct 13, 2008 8:11:42 AM
George Stephanopoulos is a sly and smooth talking (sounds like Obama) journalist who thinks he can sway voters towards Obama. I think not. My entire family (and friends) are turned off by his constant hammering of McCain and relentlessly pushing Obama down our throats.
Your biased remarks and reporting are just enforcing our conviction to vote for John McCain. We the American people can see through you. We have minds of our own and WILL VOTE FOR WHO WE WANT.. NOT WHO YOU WANT.
Posted by: Mare | Oct 13, 2008 8:12:13 AM
Breaking news: Rezko is talking to the FBI about Rod Blagojevich, the governor of Illinois, not Obama (that's according to the Associated Press -- look it up). For the billionth time, the Chicago press has raked over the information in this story for YEARS; Obama has met with investigative reporters from the Sun-Times and the Tribune, and he answered questions until they had no more questions, literally. They asked him everything they could think of. What did they conclude? That Obama should've set down and talked to them a long time ago, because it would've cleared up the mess faster. They also PRAISED Obama for his openness about the issue and said that it was a standard that all politicians should live by. Then on top of all that federal investigators found no evidence of wrongdoing on Obama's part. They even tried to get Rezko to make up something about evidence, but Rezko said he wouldn't "lie to save himself." (look that up too). Although I have a feeling that these FACTS won't stop the smears, here they are. You could save yourself a whole lotta heartburn if you stopped trying to smear Obama.
Posted by: TruthSeekr | Oct 13, 2008 8:12:42 AM
It is very funny to me that abc news has got it by 10 when all the other polling shows the lead narrowing.abc shows it increasing
Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 13, 2008 8:13:37 AM
McCain is reaping what he sewed. The choice of Palin, who is really like a mayor of a large city (Alaska would have the population of the 17th largest U.S. City), has no international experience, has come off as a fool, being unable to state a magazine or newspaper she reads, thinks that if she can see a land mass, she knows the politics of those that live there, and although she has railed against "activist judges," when asked whether she can name a Supreme Court case outcome she disagrees with, other than Roe V Wade, says "Roe V Wade." Now McCain and Palin are the only two President and Vice Presidential nominees, who have violated ethics laws. Two great mavericks. They will do whatever it takes, as long as you don't care about ethics. Thanks, but no thanks!
Posted by: lxg | Oct 13, 2008 8:17:26 AM
Obama's Kenya campaign
http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/oct/12/obamas-kenya-ghosts/
How will Obama spin this one.
Posted by: Jill | Oct 13, 2008 8:19:06 AM
Republican last gasps: Rezko!
You know what Rezko did? He didn't pay a home repair bill!
The penalty for not paying your home repair bill is a short prison term.
But what about McCain's pals? Like Bush - who sent 4,180 Americans to their deaths for a lie?
The penalty for treason is...?
Posted by: clifton | Oct 13, 2008 8:21:57 AM
Jill wrote - "Obama's Kenya campaign"
So this stupid republican - when she wants Obama to be Muslin, she says MUSLIM! When she wants Obama to be Kenyan she says "KENYA".
How about Obama's AMERICAN campaign - up 53 to 43 - the biggest lead in history!
Posted by: clifton | Oct 13, 2008 8:24:13 AM
I got a suggestion for the McCain campaign. Make President Bush endorse Obama. That way McCain can tie Obama to the unpopular President.
I think that's the most mavericky thing to do. I double dare you!
Posted by: Helper | Oct 13, 2008 8:25:11 AM
Actually, most polls show that the race is pretty stable. On average Obama has about a 7-8 point lead, but a few polls have shown him with double-digit leads. By the way the "tightening" in the polls may be due to something called "statistical noise/error." That can cause numbers to fluctuate by a 1-3 points, or more, depending on the pollster. That's why people often look at poll averages, not just one poll. And, according to the averages, Obama's 7-8 points ahead. When/if that average changes, then it would be a strong sign that the race is tightening. Until then, the most accurate perspective right now is that Obama has a stable lead.
Posted by: TruthSeekr | Oct 13, 2008 8:27:42 AM
George Stephanopoulos Bows to Obama daily.
Is he on the Obama payroll
Is he going to Obama Press team
Posted by: seah | Oct 13, 2008 8:27:55 AM
Do you know the story " the wolf and the boy"?
Maccain overuse negative ad too much, now whatever he attack obama, people don't pay much attention.... except right wings.
Moderate or independent are turned off by these negative attacks.
Posted by: zen | Oct 13, 2008 8:28:45 AM
You're underestimating John McCain's neocon operatives.
I'm sure they've already figured out the most crucial states, and are perfecting their plans for voting machine fraud there.
Posted by: GrammyofTwo | Oct 13, 2008 8:30:04 AM
So, do you think you really know John McCain? Rolling Stone Magazine has an excellent bio on him. There is some extremely surprising content. Take a look for the article titled, "MAKE BELIEVE MAVERICK." Before you vote, check it out. We deserve more!
Posted by: Frank | Oct 13, 2008 8:30:48 AM
McCain and all Republicans are about to reap the division and discord and stupidity that they have sewn over the last 14 years. I see in Ohio all these unemployed people who will vote for McCain. Don't you people ever learn? It was Bush and his trickle down de-regulation policies that put you in the unemployment line. A McSame presidency would spell certain disaster for this country. OBAMA-BIDEN 2008
Posted by: Rob | Oct 13, 2008 8:33:59 AM
These polls have foreigners and terrorists participating. See the contributions from Palestinians and middle easterners to Obama and polls participation from Indonesia and Kenya (hint, hint). Of Course, th eliberal MSM is in the tank without any exploration of Ayers/Wright/ACORN/Farrakhan/Palestinian contributions/etc...
Posted by: vs | Oct 13, 2008 8:35:17 AM
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