Barack Obama/Joe Biden widen their lead in the polls

[greysfang]

Obama's lead widens in latest Ipsos/McClatchy poll

Steven Thomma

McClatchy Newspapers



WASHINGTON — Entering the homestretch, Barack Obama leads John McCain by 50 to 42 percent and appears to be gaining strength on key issues despite a barrage of criticism from his rival.
A new Ipsos/McClatchy poll out Tuesday found:

• Obama, the Democrat, supported by 50 percent of likely voters.
• McCain, the Republican, supported by 42 percent.
• Independent candidate Ralph Nader supported by 1 percent.

Libertarian candidate Bob Barr didn't register enough support to count. Another 7 percent of likely voters didn't support any of those candidates or didn't know whom they supported.

The Ipsos/McClatchy poll of 773 likely voters was taken last Thursday through Monday. It has an error margin of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. "Likely voters" are those who are registered to vote and display some measure of intense engagement in the election.

The first Ipsos-McClatchy poll taken since the third and final debate between the major candidates offered several signs of growing strength for Obama and troubling weaknesses for McCain.

On issues, Obama's gained ground among voters across the board, even on issues where McCain still has an advantage and on some where the Republican usually would expect to be ahead.

On taxes, for example, likely voters now prefer Obama over McCain by a margin of 8 percentage points. This is despite a concerted effort by McCain and running mate Sarah Palin to cast Obama as a tax-and-spend liberal who'd raise taxes on ordinary folks such as Joe the Plumber, an Ohio man whom McCain cited repeatedly in the last debate and since then in ads and on the campaign trail.

On family values, a subject Republicans have used to court Christian conservatives and suburban moderates since the 1980s, likely voters now prefer Obama over McCain by 8 points. That's up from 3 points in mid-September.

Voters also prefer Obama over McCain to handle jobs and the economy by 16 points and health care by 24 points, both wider margins than earlier Ipsos/McClatchy polls found. That reflects the traditional Democratic advantage on those issues and a barrage of Obama ads in battleground states ripping McCain's health-care proposals.

Likely voters still prefer McCain over Obama on the issues of national security and foreign policy. However, McCain's advantage on national security, 12 percentage points, had narrowed sharply from the 23- to 28-point edge he'd had in weekly Ipsos/McClatchy polls since Labor Day.

More troubling for McCain's prospects: Voters don't care as much about the issues on which he's strong.

They rank the economy as their top priority by 3-1 over national security, a distant second. Foreign policy is dead last.

Obama benefits from a significant gender gap, leading among women by 16 points while trailing among men by 1 point. He also leads among voters aged 18-34, those aged 35-54, Hispanics and blacks. The two candidates split older voters.

McCain leads among whites, 51-40 percent.

In another sign of Obama's growing strength, his support is becoming more solid in the final weeks, as McCain continues to show some weakness even among his own supporters.

Among Obama supporters, 92 percent said they'd definitely vote for him and 6 percent more said they'd probably vote for him. Just 2 percent said they still could change their minds.

Among McCain supporters, 81 percent said they'd definitely vote for him and 12 percent said they'd probably vote for him. Seven percent said they could change their minds.

www.kansascity.com | 10/23/2008 | Obama's lead widens in latest Ipsos/McClatchy poll

Nice to hear that.

MODS I'M AN IDIOT, PLEASE MOVE TO POLITICS. KTHXBYE

[Sojiita]

I cannot believe the vicious hate ads that McCain/Palin are running on the radio here in Ohio. Just disgusting. God I hope Obama wins Ohio!

[celeb_2006]

I thought recent AP polls had them almost in a dead heat, or mccain gaining.

I'm just a bit scared now, the stars are aligned for Obama and this is his moment in history, but never overestimate the American public. Anything can happen, and something about mccain gives me the creeps like he can pull some miracle out. Scares me.

[emkat]

Originally Posted by celeb_2006

I thought recent AP polls had them almost in a dead heat, or mccain gaining.

That's what I saw yesterday. This electon is literally making me physically ill.

[january]

I don't know what I'll do if McCain/Palin wins. I promised myself I'd never be overdramatic about politics, but this one is just so emotional for me. It will be devastating to me to have to travel overseas if this happens and try to explain yet again why this occurred. If Palin is ever President, I will move. Period. I will not be able to take what this country has become. I know it sounds so melodramatic, but this has me on edge mentally. I just can't fathom ever, ever having a dimwit like her in charge of this country. Its so embarrassing to even have her on a ticket.

[celeb_2006]

Originally Posted by january

I don't know what I'll do if McCain/Palin wins. I promised myself I'd never be overdramatic about politics, but this one is just so emotional for me. It will be devastating to me to have to travel overseas if this happens and try to explain yet again why this occurred. If Palin is ever President, I will move. Period. I will not be able to take what this country has become. I know it sounds so melodramatic, but this has me on edge mentally. I just can't fathom ever, ever having a dimwit like her in charge of this country. Its so embarrassing to even have her on a ticket.

I hear you. This is like your favorite sports team down the stretch from winning the world championship but they are hugely upset. But this elections a million times worse. For a sports team it's one year wait. For a president, it's four long years, with the stakes much, much higher. Scary.

[candy27]

So many people are anxious and hoping McCain loses. McCain is using the dirtiest sleaziest tactics ever. So many people are disgusted even some republicans who claim they will vote for Obama instead.

[McJag]

Originally Posted by january

I don't know what I'll do if McCain/Palin wins. I promised myself I'd never be overdramatic about politics, but this one is just so emotional for me. It will be devastating to me to have to travel overseas if this happens and try to explain yet again why this occurred. If Palin is ever President, I will move. Period. I will not be able to take what this country has become. I know it sounds so melodramatic, but this has me on edge mentally. I just can't fathom ever, ever having a dimwit like her in charge of this country. Its so embarrassing to even have her on a ticket.

Nobody is driving me out of the country! Her ass can leave. Still:

Get out and vote. Early. Leave no room for flat tires,bad storms or anything else. Vote like your Country depends on it.