Pew Poll: Obama Expands Double-Digit Lead

Barack Obama has a double-digit lead over John McCain in the latest Pew poll, 52 percent to 38 percent with registered voters, and 53 percent to 39 percent among likely voters. The Democratic candidate has made particular strides on national security and expanded his lead on the economy. Meanwhile, doubts about McCain's campaign, age, and judgment are growing.

Also, the age factor has become a problem for McCain: the number of likely voters who think that McCain is too old increased from 23% in early September to 34% in mid-October.

One surprising result that might reflect growing voter dissatisfaction with negative attacks: McCain's campaign was given a lower grade than the Bush 2000 campaign, which benefited from scurrilous innuendo in South Carolina about McCain's adopted daughter, and the Bush 2004 campaign, which benefited from the Swift Boat Veterans for America's ads against John Kerry:

Obama's strong showing in the current poll reflects greater confidence in the Democratic candidate personally. More voters see him as "well-qualified" and "down-to-earth" than did so a month ago. Obama also is inspiring more confidence on several key issues, including Iraq and terrorism, than he did before the debates. Most important, Obama now leads McCain as the candidate best able to improve economic conditions by a wider margin (53% to 32%).

Obama's gains notwithstanding, a widespread loss of confidence in McCain appears to be the most significant factor in the race at this point. Many more voters express doubts about McCain's judgment than about Obama's: 41% see McCain as "having poor judgment," while just 29% say that this trait describes Obama. Fewer voters also view McCain as inspiring than did so in mid-September (37% now, 43% then). By contrast, 71% of voters continue to think of Obama as inspiring.

In addition, Sarah Palin appears to be a continuing - if not an increasing - drag on the GOP ticket. Currently, 49% of voters express an unfavorable opinion of Palin, while 44% have a favorable view. In mid-September, favorable opinions of Palin outnumbered negative ones by 54% to 32%. Women, especially women under age 50, have become increasingly critical of Palin: 60% now express an unfavorable view of Palin, up from 36% in mid-September. Notably, opinions of Palin have a greater impact on voting intentions than do opinions of Joe Biden, Obama's running mate.

Comments

[PepeLepew]

12:30 PM on 10/22/2008

One of the most encouragin­g things I've just read is that the ways the polls are going, all Obama has to do is win *one* of these battlegrou­nd states: Virginia, Colorado, North Carolina, Ohio, Missouri, Florida -- to win the Electoral vote. Just one! And he's leading in the polls in every single one of these states.

[BluePride]

11:17 AM on 10/22/2008

The Ballad of Johnny McCain:

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=tDceTz3UA­gI

Everybody RUN... HomeComing Queen Palin's got a GUN!

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=59mOukUZN­Uo

Sam, Patti & a 22-year old Diane: A Change IS Gonna Come:

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=wTba2ERcs­rw

humor & inspiratio­n, take your pick!

[pennsykid2000]

11:14 AM on 10/22/2008

If Obama really does get over 50% (e.g. at least 52% or so) of the popular vote, he will be the first Dem since LBJ in 1964 to do so, just the third Dem to do so since the Civil War (FDR being the other). Truly historic. It will also put more pressure on him to deliver on policy that gets us out of this economic mess, not to mention all the other holes Bush dug us into. If he can, we are looking at one of the top 5 or so presidents ever.

[namewithheld]

09:27 AM on 10/22/2008

What is PEW poll's record of accuracy? Seriously, just wondering.

[Pinkmarbles]

09:08 AM on 10/22/2008

Something stinks about the PEW poll. I see no need to vote for a Democrat since I have no plans or desires to become a ward of the government­. Somehow I don’t think 2008 is going to be the first time.

[DaOne]

09:20 AM on 10/22/2008

So the GOP bailout of banks makes you what?

[amiblueyoubet]

09:59 AM on 10/22/2008

I'd rather be a ward of the government than an enemy of the government­, which is the way the Repugnants treat us.

[neoconumb]

11:13 AM on 10/22/2008

See neoconumb reply below.

[proudlefty100]

09:03 AM on 10/22/2008

I almost wish they would stop these polls and surveys. Please don’t take anything for granted - nothing matters until votes are cast.

Everyone must vote, even if you feel you are in a “solid” blue state. EVERY vote counts! Vote early if you can. Don’t get discourage­d by long lines or republican tricks at the polling places, voting is worth it!!! Make sure friends and family vote and if you know someone who needs a ride to the polls, take them along. Getting Obama elected is worth it.

Let’s make it our goal not just to elect Obama, but to elect him by a WIDE margin – let’s make it known America is serious about getting back on the right track.

I know I’m not alone in my thoughts that I’m so happy to finally have a candidate who I believe in and am excited to vote for.

We also must help House and Senate Democrats get elected, so Obama will have support for his policies. No use having a President with great policies but cannot get anything done because of gridlock in Congress. Some may feel having one party run everything is not good, but the problem is nothing gets done otherwise. Next step for America is to stop this debilitati­ng partisan crap and elect politicans who will work with each other – truly across “party lines” to implement policies and laws that really work for America.

OBAMA/BIDE­N ’08!!

[kid5rivers2]

08:34 AM on 10/22/2008

Not surprising­. That's what happens when you enter and run a race properly fired up and ready to go!

[justoverit333]

09:06 AM on 10/22/2008

Palin wasn't even on McCain's short list
for VP. His advisers just pulled it out
of their a__. Yeah, that's country first.
NOT!

[AlteSoldier]

07:37 AM on 10/22/2008

Block the Vote
CNN Reporter took three hours to vote in Florida
It ultimately took Zarrella 3 hours and 15 minutes to get to the head of the line. "There are two machines that actually print out the ballots," Zarrella explained, "and both of the machines went down for a period of about 45 minutes."

Technical problems were also noted elsewhere in Florida on Monday. In Jacksonvil­le, some of the vote scanning machines malfunctio­ned, and seven out of the fifteen had to be replaced because they were rejecting ballots. At Miami Beach City Hall, it was reported that "some of the computers used to check in voters weren't working, though there were no problems with the optical scan machines used to count ballots."

"First day, early problems," Zarrella concluded hopefully. "We'll see what happens as the weeks progress."
http://raw­story.com/­news/2008/­CNN_report­er_waits_3­_hours_to_­1021.html

Will the GOP's campaign to deter new voters and discard Democratic ballots determine the next president?


To his surprise, Maez found that his name had vanished from the list of registered voters, thanks to a statewide effort to deter fraudulent voting. For Maez, the shock was especially acute: He is the supervisor of elections in Las Vegas.

http://www­.rollingst­one.com/po­litics/sto­ry/2363832­2/block_th­e_vote

http://cro­oksandliar­s.com/cern­ig/assault­-democracy­#comment-8­89433

Friends don’t ask friends to vote on Provisiona­l Ballots!

[Liberalforsure]

06:58 AM on 10/22/2008

People google PNAC and john mccain and make sure your sitting down. After your done spread the word. This is chilling.

[Doomestic]

06:53 AM on 10/22/2008

ABC.

Always Be Closing.

[sungaj]

06:51 AM on 10/22/2008

Al Qaeda-Link­ed Web Site Backs McCain for President

Saw this on fauxnews.c­om, but I think it's true and the other networks may not have picked it up yet.

I think this is HUGE! I am posting this in different threads here at HuffPo, please help to disseminat­e this, we need to make sure it gets traction in the MSM!!

http://ele­ctions.fox­news.com/2­008/10/22/­al-qaeda-l­inked-web-­site-backs­-mccain-pr­esident/

[bob8788]

06:22 AM on 10/22/2008

On Al-Qaeda Web Sites, Joy Over U.S. Crisis, Support for McCain

http://bar­ackobamaca­ns.blogspo­t.com/

[imsosure]

06:14 AM on 10/22/2008

Congratula­tions Mr. Obama, I'm proud to see you doing well in this race, you have the moxie and poise to put the GOP where they belong, in the back of the bus.

[timberdoodle]

04:59 AM on 10/22/2008

As Obama's lead grows so does the respect for Americans around the world.

[nanton29]

05:21 AM on 10/22/2008

And the political pundits on TV keep suggesting that as election day approaches we will see Obama's lead shrink. Really ? I do not see how given the way that McCain's campaign is imploding.

[imsosure]

06:17 AM on 10/22/2008

It's called the Bradley effect, when people figure it's no ones business when pollsters call and they tell them whatever they think the pollster wants to hear and vote the way they want regardless­, typically not the way they said they would.

[dlinguist]

04:57 AM on 10/22/2008

Well that's just the pinko ultra-libe­ral Pew Research Center for you! Rush Limbaugh has it at just 49% Obama, 48% McCain! Besides, it is the electoral votes that matter, and Bill O'Reilly's electoral map has McCain up 189-183, with 166 up for grabs.

for Limbaugh poll: http://www­.rushlimba­ugh.com/ho­me/daily/s­ite_102108­/content/0­1125106.gu­est.html

for O'Reilly Electoral Map:
http://www­.foxnews.c­om/oreilly­/winning-t­he-elector­al-college­/

All kidding aside... when your ultra-con buddy sits there in shock, looking at the election results as they show on the TV on Nov 4, and screams the election was stolen... that may be part reason why he would think that. He didn't see it coming.

[lmrgreen]

06:24 AM on 10/22/2008

This is hysterical­! O'Reilly has Oregon, my state listed as a toss-up! It's never been close to a toss-up - maybe earlier a "lean Dem" but toss-up? No way. No wonder the republican base thinks they still have a chance. Boy are they in for a huge slap in the face Nov 4 - that is if get the vote out!

[packeryman]

10:25 AM on 10/22/2008

O'Reilly has recently shown himself a lot more right than he previously presented himself. I think this right wing leaning has really been illustrate­d during this election. Every debate he would say McCain was dead if he lost the debate. Then he would come back and say he won when all polls said Obama or Biden did. He would say this after every debate, trying to postpone the day he had to tell the audience it was over for MCCain and Palin. That day will occur soon.

[Doomestic]

06:59 AM on 10/22/2008

The more they keep dreaming, the more crushing their defeat would be on November 4th.

Always Be Closing. ABC.