Obama's Poll Numbers Bump Up As Democrats Consolidate

In the first sign that voters are coalescing around Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee, two daily tracking polls notice a widening of the gap over his Republican rival John McCain. Both Gallup and Rasmussen now have Obama holding a gap of 6% over McCain. The numbers in parentheses show the point change from last week:

Gallup
Obama 48% (+3)
McCain 42% (-4)
Margin of error: 2%

Rasmussen
Obama 50% (+4)
McCain 44% (-2)
Margin of error: 4%

Chris Bowers notices that the gap grew significantly after Hillary's concession speech on Saturday, which suggests that the spread has only just begun:

Obama appears to be rising even faster following Hillary Clinton's concession speech on Saturday than he rose from Wednesday through Friday. Since Clinton's speech, despite only a two-day sample, Obama has gained 5% relative to McCain in Gallup, and 3% relative to McCain in Rasmussen. Cumulatively, that is more than half of Obama's gain, despite only having a two-day sample (the tracking polls measure three days, according to both websites).

Rasmussen also notices that Obama is not doing poorly among women voters, as is commonly presumed in most coverage:

Pollster Scott Rasmussen says that as of today, based on 3,000 automated telephone surveys over the past three nights, Obama gets support from 52% of the women in his national tracking poll compared with 40% for presumptive Republican nominee John McCain. He says that's better than Democrat John Kerry did with women against President Bush in 2004.

Scott attributes Obama's performance to unification within the Democratic Party over the past few days. "Before last Tuesday, Obama routinely earned around 70% of vote from Democrats," he tells us in an e-mail. "He's up to 81% today. Clearly the party has been coming together."

All of this, of course, should be taken with a grain of salt. A bump is one thing, but it remains to be seen is Obama will sustain this lead over McCain.

Comments

[mero909]

those are some really killer glasses!

[Ranta]

At least he didn't get them from Sly Stone.

[DrPaulProteus]

What's wrong with Sly Stone? Or his glasses?

[macbabe]

ALL the kids want them, it's like Will Smith all over again LOL

[Krikkit]

Yeah, the fact that he looks so cool is just a plus, isn't it? I was smiling and laughing when I saw that photo.

:)

[LTinCali]

Between the "terrorist" fist bump and the cool glasses, this man has confidence exuding from his pores. I saved one picture of him exiting his SUV with his secret service surrounding him and I just had to have it. It was such a cool picture and just showed the enormity of his confidence.

[pleeezzze]

Thats really ...EGOTISM ,oozing from your boy King !

[TopDog]

Am I naive to think that McCain does not have a chance in hell this November? Is it just me?
I think McCain is not going to be able to overcome the difference in sharpness, charisma and energy. As an Independent, I thought I was prepared to support either Obama or McCain but after I heard McCain speak, it was apparent to me that he is not only out of step but looks like his mental capacity is limited.

[DrPaulProteus]

Uh... this is a country that elected George W. Bush, remember? Almost twice!

[McFlipFlop]

Agree.

[heal57]

I'm a registered Independent and have been for my entire life. There is no way I'd ever vote for McCain, and I voted once for Reagon. I don't think it will even be close. It's Obama all the way.

Independent for Obama '08

[Oilygarch]

Joe Kewl -with those sunglasses!

[Kalima]

BO, ready for take -off. Over and out! It seems as some people are coming to their senses.
Hip, hip! Hurrah!

[Kalima]

Sorry,,,,,,,,as if some people.

[Oilygarch]

Joe Kewl, -with those glasses!

[nunzia]

ALERT:
Dennis Kucinich is on the floor of the house, now, reading 35 Articles of Impeachment into the record.
c-span.

[strifeknot]

Kucinich is my hero; Reid, Pelosi, Clinton and all the other complicit Dems still turn my stomach.

[dortmunder]

Only 35 this week? Yawn.

[GiannaX]

Geez, don't let the families of over four thousand dead soldiers see you yawn!

[NoFactsJustTruth]

It's in like it's third hour, GO Dennis!

[rzan]

Dennis is wonderfully relentless.

[BJMS]

Mark my words...there will be a REVERSE Bradley-effect this November. Many Independents and Republicans all over the country will be embarassed to tell a pollster that they like Obama, but will go into the booth and pull the lever. I hear it everywhere...in hushed voices...

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Great point. I think that has played out in the Democratic race as well. Obama out performed the polls especially in open primaries. IN was a great example where Obama was an average of 6-7 points behind but ended up losingy by only one point. In fact if not for operation chaos, Obama would have won easily.

[McFlipFlop]

Agree with both you guys.

[Krikkit]

I've had republican friends tell me for the past year that they like Obama and will vote for him. Every time I hear this, it comes with the extraction of the promise, "but don't tell anyone!"

lol

Next year or the year after, these people will be bragging outright about voting for Obama.

[soot]

My next president!

[sanywhere]

our

[justobserve]

Obama's so called "problems" were overblown. Some people want to exaggerate for their own political reasons but Obama is working hard so he will win in November. Just look at his amazing well-planned campaign and we can see what kind of a government he will govern. No more selfserving people with big ego, no dramas, just a sense of common purpose for a better country for the next generations. Who don't want that for their children and their children's children?

[ProgressiveBum]

Most so-called problems are media machinations for ratings.

[williamg]

Rasmussen Presidential tracking poll shows that Obama does NOT have a women's vote problem:

Among women voters
Obama - 52
Clinton - 40

That Obviously is a 12 point spread in Obama's favor.

In 2000, Gore beat Bush among women by an 11 point spread.

In 2004, Kerry beat Bush among women by only 3 points.

After going through this tough primary against Clinton, and it only being June, Obama will only increase his standing with women over the next 5 months.

The key will come down to the White Male vote (again). Sigh...

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2008/06/are-women-shunn.html

[williamg]

*Clinton = McCain (It has become a habit at this point).

[needavid]

You have got to start showing some respect to senator Clinton. All that happened in the past is now water under the bridge.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

Did Putin win the election for German president?

McCain says Putin is the president of Germany and he seemed convinced that he spoke with him.

[williamg]

Did he really?

[mairs]

You're kidding! He's a total mess.

[williamg]

You are right! I can't believe I never heard of him saying that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5ENwej0fpc

[Oilygarch]

-& Dubya said that he was having conversations with G-d about Irael!!

[kevenseven]

What percentage of Black registered voters do you think will turn out?

[williamg]

That is what I find interesting. I heard somewhere today that White Christians outnumbered Union and Black voters combined by a 2:1 ratio in the last election.

Does anyone think that will happen this time?

[pacats]

People understand the importance of making this happen. After giving our spouses the bump, we go out and recruit new voters.

[kellygrrrl]

Record Numbers!

can I put money on it?

ugh! I hate Vegas

[kay]

I remember that with Bush. The "security moms". Really. I get physically sick thinking about it. They were apparently all scared spitless, and out of their minds. I'm still mad at them.

[Gmoney1]

Yea, and 4000 plus who gave their lives - what a shame - those who voted for Bush - wow -

[hw]

Oh come on,

Does anyone actually believe that McCain has that high a percentage?

I don't.

[williamg]

Not after a debate or two.

[izAriver]

Poor, poor williamg. Must hurt so much.

[hannitizer]

That image reminds me alot of Will Smith's character in "Men In Black" agent J. Remember what he said, "I make this look good"

[SCVADem]

I thought the same thing!

Barack to McCain: "You know the difference between you and me? I make this look good."

[Fitzy]

The msm sucks. If I was smart I would stick with the internet only. I understand that they need ratings to make $$, but I'm so sick and tired of them. I'd rather hear the opinions of every day people who aren't getting paid for their blah, blah blah.
Their topics and headlines give us something to throw around, but it's your opinions that I really appreciate.
Thanks to Huff-Po for giving me this option, and thanks to the year 2008 for giving me the resources (the Internet) to find some facts.

[McFlipFlop]

The MSM is mostly only good for finding out what people are watching and therefore possibly believing.

[Jaxxon]

The headline and supporting photos made me think JMc gave O a "fist bump".

[beekeeper]

I worry about anyone who would vote McCain.

[Illinoissuburbanvoter]

I pray for them and us.

[kevenseven]

Do you now?

I wonder what sort of author you are?