« September 2008 | Main | November 2008 »

New Direction vs. Experience (and an Early Voting Update)

With the economy proving far scarier to voters this Halloween than the threat of terrorism or the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, likely voters are looking more for new ideas and a new direction than an experienced hand – though...

Continue reading "New Direction vs. Experience (and an Early Voting Update)"

October 31, 2008 in 2008 General Election | Permalink | User Comments (402)

Leadership and Change

After a year positioning himself as the change candidate, Barack Obama owns the issue. On leadership overall, though, it’s a far closer call. Likely voters by 60-34 percent in the latest ABC News/Washington Post tracking poll say Obama would do...

Continue reading "Leadership and Change"

October 30, 2008 in 2008 General Election | Permalink | User Comments (33)

Do You Know This Candidate?

Barack Obama and John McCain alike have made strides since June in acquainting likely voters with their positions. The difference: For Obama’s supporters, it looks much more likely to matter. More than three-quarters of likely voters in out ABC News/Washington...

Continue reading "Do You Know This Candidate?"

October 29, 2008 in 2008 General Election | Permalink | User Comments (42)

Ready for 2012

For nearly one in 10 likely voters, it’s not a week from Election Day, it’s four years and a week. Their work in 2008 is done. Those are the 9 percent in the latest ABC News/Washington Post tracking poll who...

Continue reading "Ready for 2012"

October 28, 2008 in 2008 General Election | Permalink | User Comments (22)

Politics and Prejudice

With a personally popular African-American candidate leading in the presidential race, our ABC News/Washington Post tracking poll finds a significant drop in the number of likely voters who report feelings of racial prejudice. In mid-June, asked to “honestly assess yourself,”...

Continue reading "Politics and Prejudice"

October 27, 2008 in 2008 General Election, Race | Permalink | User Comments (45)

Divided Gov't and McCain's Closing Case

One of John McCain’s closing arguments – as reported by George Stephanopoulos last week – has some resonance among swing-voting independents: resistance to Democratic control of the presidency and Congress alike. Likely voters overall favor Democratic control of Congress by...

Continue reading "Divided Gov't and McCain's Closing Case"

October 26, 2008 in 2008 General Election | Permalink | User Comments (84)

The Ground War Rages

Three in 10 likely voters say they’ve been contacted by phone, e-mail or in person by Barack Obama’s campaign, rising to four in 10 in the battleground states – in both cases an advantage for Obama over John McCain in...

Continue reading "The Ground War Rages"

October 24, 2008 in 2008 General Election | Permalink | User Comments (30)

Ideology and Ethics

Amidst the rocks in the road for John McCain is this: His criticisms of Barack Obama in terms of ideology aren’t showing progress, and on ethics Obama’s actually improved. "Obama – born of the corrupt Chicago political machine” says one...

Continue reading "Ideology and Ethics"

October 23, 2008 in 2008 General Election | Permalink | User Comments (44)

Battlegrounds, Reds and Blues

Our latest tracking poll results underscore Barack Obama’s advantage on the electoral map – both in comparison with past years and in terms of this year’s battleground states. In the 16 states identified by the ABC News Political Unit as...

Continue reading "Battlegrounds, Reds and Blues "

October 22, 2008 in 2008 General Election | Permalink | User Comments (38)

The Economy... and those Clinton Democrats

Two factors that weren’t fully anticipated early this summer are boosting Barack Obama in the presidential race. One, most powerfully, is the economy; another – surprise – are Clinton Democrats. Just in time for Hillary Clinton’s appearance with Obama in...

Continue reading "The Economy... and those Clinton Democrats"

October 21, 2008 in 2008 General Election | Permalink | User Comments (59)