Poll Results: Obama and McCain Appear to be in an Even Heat … In a Democratic Year, Why Isn’t Obama Ahead … Flip-Flopping?

Flip-Flops … Hey Obama, if the shoe fits …

Obama’s flip-flopping may be cause for concern for many who voted for him during the Democratic primaries and even greater cause for concern for anyone who thinks that he can stick to a position.

What a difference a week makes with a poll. More to the point, what a difference flip-flopping makes to the results of a poll. Obama is doing everything he can to make it a close race. Imagine what poll numbers would look like if the media was not on his side? Both Republican, Democratic and non-partisan pundits are saying that the 2008 elections are going to be an overwhelming sweep for Democrats. Real Clear Politics shows that Democrats lead in the Generic Congressional Vote over Republicans by 12.2%. If this is the case, why isn’t Barack Obama leading John McCain by any substantial margin? Is he that bad a candidate?

Last week the Newsweek “mythical” poll had Obama leading McCain by 15 points, 51 to 36 percent. In the course of one week that same Newsweek poll has it a dead heat with Obama leading by 3 points, 44 percent to 41 percent. Why the massive free fall drop by the media darling, Obama? Could it be that Democrats are upset with their wanna be “Flip-flopper and Chief”? Obama’s reversal on FISA, faith based initiatives and the immediate pull out of troops from Iraq may be cause for concern for many Democrats. With all of Obama’s waffling and changing of positions … they voters might have well nominated Hillary Clinton for the Democratic candidate for this Falls Presidential election.

Obama’s rapid drop comes at a strategically challenging moment for the Democratic candidate. Having vanquished Hillary Clinton in early June, Obama quickly went about repositioning himself for a general-election audience–an unpleasant task for any nominee emerging from the pander-heavy primary contests and particularly for a candidate who’d slogged through a vigorous primary challenge in most every contest from January until June. Obama’s reversal on FISA legislation, his support of faith-based initiatives and his decision to opt out of the campaign public-financing system left him open to charges he was a flip-flopper. In the new poll, 53 percent of voters (and 50 percent of former Hillary Clinton supporters) believe that Obama has changed his position on key issues in order to gain political advantage.

Poll: National Race Tightens; Majority Says Obama Flip-Flopped On Key Issues

The CNN Poll has it a statistical dead heat, the Rasmussen Tracking Poll has a tie at 46%-46% and the Gallup Daily Tracking poll has it a statistical tie with Obama leading 46%–43%.

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Think Presidents Approval Ratings are Low … Check Out Congress … Approval Falls to Single Digits

The MSM likes to emphasize the fact that President George W. Bush has extremely low approval ratings. However, compared the single digit Congressional approval ratings they look like a walk in the park. 9% say Congress is doing a good or excellent job. 9%!!! That coming from the Democratic controlled House and Senate. This poll also proves that 9% of the polling community has politicians as family.

The percentage of voters who give Congress good or excellent ratings has fallen to single digits for the first time in Rasmussen Reports tracking history. This month, just 9% say Congress is doing a good or excellent job. Most voters (52%) say Congress is doing a poor job, which ties the record high in that dubious category.

Voters not affiliated with either party are the most critical of Congressional performance. Just 3% of those voters give Congress positive ratings, down from 6% last month.

As Congress sits by and does nothing to help the immediate needs of “We the People,”with the high price of gas is it any wonder why Americans are fed up with them all. By the time they do act, its to late.

I have a suggestion to rid ourselves all all these lazy and complacent do nothing politicians …. TERM LIMITS!!! If a President has them, so should Congress.

Warning Signs for Obama … Hillary Clinton Supporters Still Not On Board with Obama

According to a CNN poll, Barack Obama is losing support of Democrats rather than gaining them since his “unity” meeting with Hillary Clinton. Obama’s support from registered Democrats has dropped from 59% to 54%.  As Q and O states, “Unity” is more than a town in New Hampshire. How is it possible that the messiah of the Democratic party is now managing to lose Democrats rather than heal the party after an often-bitter primary.

A growing number of Clinton supporters polled say they may stay home in November instead of casting their ballot for Obama, an indication the party has yet to coalesce around the Illinois senator four weeks after the most prolonged and at times divisive primary race in modern American history came to a close.

According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released Friday, the number of Clinton supporters who plan to defect to Republican Sen. John McCain’s camp is down from one month ago, but — in what could be an ominous sign for Obama as he seeks to unify the party — the number of them who say they plan to vote for Obama is also down, and a growing number say they may not vote at all.

In a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey completed in early June before the New York senator ended her White House bid, 60 percent of Clinton backers polled said they planned on voting for Obama. In the latest poll, that number has dropped to 54 percent.

No Quarter points out another starting aspect of the CNN poll, the fact that  many Democrats still would prefer her to be the nominee over Barack Obama. The Democratic race for the nominee to be President between Hillary and Obama was not a political primary, but more one of a bitter, emotional divorce primary. Those emotions can explain much when it comes to Hillary supporters not backing Obama, now or ever.

In another sign the wounds of the heated primary race have yet to heal, 43 percent of registered Democrats polled still say they would prefer Clinton to be the party’s presidential nominee. Watch why Clinton supporters are struggling with supporting Obama »

That number is significantly higher than it was in early June, when 35 percent of Democrats polled said they preferred Clinton to lead the party’s presidential ticket. …

What do others have to say:

• Flopping Aces: The Warning Signs For Obama & What’s Up With All That Black Anger?
• TENNESSEE GUERILLA WOMEN: Nearly A Third of Hillary Supporters Will Stay Home in November

Drill Baby Drill … 67% Support Offshore Drilling … End the Federal Ban if Offshore Drilling

Just Drill Baby … Doesn’t it actually seem un-American to have a supply of oil right here in the United States, yet instead refuse to drill. Instead the US makes itself dependent  upon others for that very same oil while paying a ridiculous price per barrel of oil. Why does our government want America to be dependent on foreign countries for its oil supply when they can drill at home? When it comes to oil dependency, there’s no place like home.

Government needs to stop pandering to environmentalists and start caring about the people who voted them into office. If politicians do not think that the high price of gas is not political issue that is affecting millions of voters, they best rethink that notion. The politician who best present their price of gas policy as a winning issue to the voters will win in November.

According to a recent Rasmussen poll, 67% of individuals polled support offshore drilling in the United States and 64% believe that drilling will lower prices at the pump. John McCain called for an end of the federal ban on offshore oil drilling. I think McCain is only saying what most Americans obviously feel. Enough is enough. The high price of oil has reached such levels that it is affecting every aspect of the American economy.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey—conducted before McCain announced his intentions on the issue–finds that 67% of voters believe that drilling should be allowed off the coasts of California, Florida and other states. Only 18% disagree and 15% are undecided. Conservative and moderate voters strongly support this approach, while liberals are more evenly divided (46% of liberals favor drilling, 37% oppose).

Sixty-four percent (64%) of voters believe it is at least somewhat likely that gas prices will go down if offshore oil drilling is allowed, although 27% don’t believe it. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of conservatives say offshore drilling is at least somewhat likely to drive prices down. That view is shared by 57% of moderates and 50% of liberal voters.

John McCain seems to be the only Presidential candidate who hears the will of the people and looks for a way to end high oil prices. In this day and age we can drill for oil in an eco-friendly manner. Caring for the environment does not mean that one should want to destroy the American economy. McCain wishes to drill responsibly. As Red State points out, “the Obama campaign has come up with no proposals whatsoever aimed at increasing the supply of oil in order to alleviate current price pressures.”

“We must embark on a national mission to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil,” McCain told reporters yesterday. In a speech today, he plans to add that “we have untapped oil reserves of at least 21 billion barrels in the United States. But a broad federal moratorium stands in the way of energy exploration and production. . . . It is time for the federal government to lift these restrictions.”

Gateway Pundit: Bush Will Call On Congress To Lift Ban On Offshore Drilling Tomorrow

McCain touts energy conservation and oil exploration

Rising oil and gasoline prices have put energy concerns at the center of the contest between McCain and presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama to succeed President George W. Bush after the November election.

Gallup Poll: Virtual Tie, Obama 44% - McCain 42% … Where be the Bounce?

According to the Gallup Poll, its a virtual tie between Obama and McCain for the Fall election. One thing is for certain, there was no bounce for Obama after he locked up the Democratic nomination. The fact that there continues to be no bounce in the polls is a bad sign for Obama when all had predicted at least a 10 point lead following rapping up the nomination. So why is it that such a charismatic candidate and the media darling has no momentum? Maybe because voters realize he is all talk.

PRINCETON, NJ — Voters are closely divided between Barack Obama and John McCain in Gallup Poll Daily tracking conducted June 12-14, with 44% of national registered voters favoring Obama for president and 42% backing McCain.

Gallup states that there appears to be the large number of undecided voters,15% not favoring either major-party candidate. This includes 7% of voters who say they are undecided and 8% who say they will not vote for either candidate. No Quarter seems to think one of the reasons for the lack of support for Obama was the way in which they have failed to reach out to Hillary supporters. 

According to a recent Rasmussen and CNN poll is was a tie as well.

UPDATE I: NEW R-J NEVADA POLL: McCain 44%, Obama 42%

With five months until Election Day, a lot can and will happen, Coker noted. But the poll shows that the two candidates begin the general election season evenly matched in Nevada, a state that has voted for the winner of every presidential race with the exception of 1976.

UPDATE II: 3 likely candidates express little interest in VP

What is most interesting is that no one in the Democratic Party on the VP A-list appears to want to be Obama’s VP on the ticket. Mark Warner of VA is the latest to take his name out of the running for VP.

UPDATE III: Hmm … Comments from the Left … I guess Red State got the non-Obama bounce wrong as well and did not read the link either, NOT! Wait until the true Independents and Conservative Democrats cross over to McCain and the Left loses their collective minds. Obama is too liberal for America and talk is cheap.

International Community Rooting for Obama in Upcoming Obama - McCain Presidential Election

Gee … there is a reason why we do not let the world vote in an American Presidential election, even though there are many Democrats who wish we would allow our fate to be determined by the international community so that we pass a “global test”.

Well, if I was not considering voting for McCain this Fall in the Presidential Election, I am now after reading this story regarding the International community openly rooting for Obama. There are two things that I would always do just the opposite of, one, whatever the majority of the MSM tells me to do and the other is what the “international” community wants.

Unfortunately for Barack Obama, citizens of Australia, Japan, Spain and Tanzania won’t have a vote in the November election.

A new survey of 47,000 people in 60 languages by the Pew Global Attitudes Project shows that around the world, people who follow the US election view Obama more favourably than Republican nominee John McCain.

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Voters Do not Trust Media for Objectivity For Election Coverage … Bias Coverage

According to a recent Rasmussen poll only 17% of voters in America believe that most reporters try to offer unbiased coverage of election campaigns. In other words a resounding percentage of people believe the media to be bias and have an agenda.

Just 17% of voters nationwide believe that most reporters try to offer unbiased coverage of election campaigns. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that four times as many—68%–believe most reporters try to help the candidate that they want to win.

The perception that reporters are advocates rather than observers is held by 82% of Republicans, 56% of Democrats, and 69% of voters not affiliated with either major party. The skepticism about reporters cuts across income, racial, gender, and age barriers.

A level playing field during an election is nonexistent. The end result is that no one trusts the media anymore. Normally the media bias is obvious during the general election; however, never was it more evident than during this past Democratic primary where  an overwhelming majority of the media was in the tank for Barack Obama. Wait until its Obama v. McCain. You have never seen media bias like we are about to see. A point further made by the fact that McCain was always the Republican media darling because of his independent ways. Now he will be portrayed as an evil Republican. No bias there.

What Happened to the 10 Point Obama General Election Bounce over McCain?

Where’s the big bounce every one predicted?

Every one in the political pundit world had predicted that upon becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee that Barack Obama would get a bump and be ahead by10 point in the polls over John McCain. After all, all polls show that the Democrats are looked upon more favorably for the Fall elections and that Dems should pick up seats in the US House, Senate and State governorships. So where is this 10 point lead? If no bounce occurs, McCain’s stance on immigration could play well in a general election.

According to the Rasmussen Report Obama leads McCain 46% to 42%. When “leaners” are included, Obama leads 48% to 45%. A CNN poll has Obama and McCain in a dead heat. Keep in mind that this poll was taken after Obama was the presumptive nominee.

In the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll conducted entirely after Obama became the presumptive Democratic nominee, he leads his Republican counterpart 49 to 46 percent among registered voters — a statistical tie, given the question’s 3 point margin of error.

The poll is the first conducted entirely after Obama became the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Team McCain Offers Their Outlook on the General Election

Hillary Clinton Wins Puerto Rico Primary Easily Over Barack Obama, 67% - 33%

Hillary Clinton wins Puerto Rico Primary … Maybe Obama should have vacationed in Puerto Rico when he tried escaping the Reverend Wright controversy rather than the Virgin Islands.Hillary Clinton has handily won today’s Democratic Primary in Puerto Rico, 67%-33%. 

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Hillary Clinton Routs Obama in Kentucky Primary 65% - 30% … Obama Should be Concerned with Exit Polls

Hillary Clinton wins in a landslide in the Kentucky Primary, 65% – 30%. Clinton beat Obama across the board in all age groups, income groups and education levels. The only demographic that Obama won was once again blacks, 87%–7%. The Kentucky Primaries further showed the division in the Democratic party and the obvious fact that Barack Obama, the presumptive candidate, cannot close the deal.

Hillary Clinton tells crowd in Louisville, KY, “We’re winning the popular vote, and I’m more determined than ever to see that every vote is cast and every ballot is counted.”

Two-thirds of Clinton’s supporters there said they would vote Republican or not vote at all rather than for Obama, according to the polls.

Forty-one percent of Clinton supporters said they’d cast their vote for John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, and 23 percent said they would not vote at all.

Just 33 percent said they would back Obama in the general election, according to the polls.

Obama having an impossible time convincing white, blue collar Democrats to vote for him. Exit polls show that whites backed Hillary Clinton. The exit polls were not kind to Obama:

• Seven in 10 whites overall backed Clinton in Kentucky, including about three quarters of those who have not completed college.
• only about four in 10 working-class whites in Kentucky said they would vote for Obama in a matchup with John McCain in the general election.
• An equal number said they would support the Republican, and the rest said they would not vote.
• About one in five whites said race played a role in choosing a candidate Tuesday.
• Only three in 10 whites who said race was a factor said they would vote for Obama should he oppose McCain in November.
• Nearly four in 10 said they would back McCain, while the rest said they wouldn’t vote.
• Among whites who said race was not a factor in picking a candidate Tuesday, half said they would support Obama over McCain.
• Just four in 10 Clinton supporters said she should pick Obama as her running mate should she win the nomination. The same number of Obama backers want Clinton to run as his vice president.

Fresh of the 41 point West Virginia Primary blow out, Hillary Clinton addressed the crowd tonight after her 36 point Kentucky win.

“Tonight we’ve achieved an important victory,” Clinton told an enthusiastic crowd at her victory rally in Louisville, Ky. “It’s not just Kentucky bluegrass that’s music to my ears, it’s the sound of your overwhelming vote of confidence, even in the face of some pretty tough odds.” (FOX News)

Full Exit Poll from KY

UPDATE I: Obama takes Oregon; Clinton wins Kentucky

(CNN) — Despite Hillary Clinton’s landslide victory in Kentucky, Barack Obama has won a majority of pledged delegates in the race for the Democratic nomination

Clinton won Kentucky by more than 30 points, but Obama’s share of the state’s 51 delegates was enough put him over the threshold, according to CNN estimates.

Obama is expected to pick up at least 14 delegates in Kentucky, and by CNN estimates, that will give him 1,627 of the 3,253 pledged delegates at stake in all of primaries and caucuses.