Where's the bounce? Obama's lead over McCain same as June

In case you hadn't heard, Sen. Barack Obama is on a presidential victory tour of Europe and the Middle East this week. He's going to give what his staff bills as "a major speech" in Berlin on Thursday because Germans can't vote in the American election. But Obama clearly really, really wants that Milwaukee vote. (BTW, we're looking forward to the day some presidential staffer characterizes his boss' speech as "a minor one.")

Silly old man that he is, Sen. John McCain, in case you hadn't heard, is still acting as if he's in the general election race, traveling around places like Pennsylvania in the United States talking and listening to people who can vote in the American election.

Asked tonight by Sean Hannity his reaction to the overwhelming news coverage of Obama's foreign trip, compared to the underwhelming coverage of his own three foreign journeys this year, McCain said, "All I can do is be amused. It is what it is." (Click on the cartoon to enlarge.)

Neither major-party candidate has actually received his party's official nomination. That doesn't come for another month yet.

So the new NBC-Wall Street Journal Poll is coming out this evening. And even in this alleged year of the Democrat, with the Obama campaign practically printing money and already running general election ads in Republican strongholds, the new July results will show that the Illinois Democrat's 6-point lead from June has remained exactly the same as in June -- 6 points. (See MSNBC video below.)

According to the results, Americans (46%-41%) feel McCain is the "safer choice" for the White House. McCain leads by a larger margin (58%-46%) as the candidate with the background and set of values they most identify with. A majority (51%-27%) find themselves thinking more about what an Obama administration would be like.

Among Obama staffers, that percentage is probably even larger.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Cartoon reprinted by permission of the artist, Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Ramirez.

Comments

[California Teacher]

Well, gallup has a new article and set of polls that say, despite little change in national poll numbers, swing state polling is pulling largely in obama's favor; in addition, democratic states are polling stronger for obama than republican ones are for McCain.

Obama is beginning to pull away, and the "open convention" will position Obama perfectly for the final push.

This foreign tour is just so he's acquainted with those who he'll be working with next year as president.

[08vote]

You Obama haters in the media need to give it a rest. Obama barely finished touring the Middle Eastt and you're screaming about his polling numbers again. Just admit that you can't stand the thought of Obama actually having an I.Q. above Pres Bush's shoe size and way above John McCain's age.

[james]

The poll was conducted over a week, ending Monday, July 21. So obviously there was no bounce from his trip abroad, because the polling was done in the week before!

[keith]

Media saturation is a double-edged sword. Kinda like that song on the radio you loved a month ago and now you cringe at hearing it?

The Dem's are famous for blowing it, wouldn't be surprised.

[twiggy]

obama is a man of the people, and for the people; which is something you people will never understand. his vision includes all people. as far as mcain being the safer candidate. well i disagree, mcain has not a clue of a bigger picture for america- i find it amusing he doesn't use a computer, email and all that. what reality is he actually a part of ? and what will he actually do to make america better?
i find obama does not have competition in mccain, neither does he have anything to prove- his posture and postions will only get better with time.

[Jen]

Why do people not learn from History?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRdLpem-AAs
Reagan Socialized Medicine
Sounds just like what Obama is touting "socialized medicine"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pbp0hur9RU
A Time For Choosing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpARv7vsBpA
We will never have another with such testicular fortitude.

[Earl]

"obama is a man of the people, and for the people"

Posted by: twiggy | July 23, 2008 at 09:50 PM

That is such a lame statement! The only qualifications Obama-baby has are in some people's imaginations. The only thing he has done, politically speaking, is run for office. He has no experience credentials and I personally don't want anyone getting on-the-job training for that job. I have a feeling our nation would go through a period of deep decline if he was our prez. His Greatness is only a figment of his supporter's imagination!

[N Wish]

It seems that every presidential election cycle our choices for president become even more lackluster than the cycle before. This year is no exception and the only surprise is how terrible these candidates really are.

McSame and O'Blah Blah, O'Blah Blah and McSame. Wow! Excuse me while I write in The Ghost of John F Kennedy on my ballot in November.

[frank]

No one and I mean no one, news media, late night comedians,conservative blogs,etc.etc. cannot say anything negative or joke about Hussein Obama. If they do they are called RACIST.This is disgusting and despicable. Answer me this, if he gets elected and starts to screw up this country via, Iraq,Iran,Israel, economy,socialized health care,energy,and probably much more, which I believe will all fail, are all these liberal, socialist , Obomobots still cry RACISM when his job numbers go into single digits. The protection this scam artist gets from the liberal media is a mortal sin and pathetic. No, No, to Hussein Obama

[kdPhD]

I do not watch Fox News nor do I intend to. I am a democrat who, until recently, was an Obama supporter. I do not take kindly to biased, angry, so called "artists" telling any citizen what to watch or whom to vote for.

I do not believe Barack Obama is a Muslim nor do I believe he is a supporter of terrorism. However, I find it insulting that during his travels this week he has acted as if he has already won the general election. I don't recall it taking place yet. His assumption that he will win, his arrogance in meeting with leaders in Europe and the Middle East are nothing more than posturing. I expected more from him. Obama needs to drastically check his ego.

I will now be voting for John McCain. I find his experience, record and courage admirable. He has been honest and straight forward. I simply can't find an issue upon which to pin Obama down on. I have tried earnestly to support him but he just doesn't stand for anything. Just when I think he does, he backs down and says whatever makes him look good. He has no record to back him up. At least with McCain, the American people know exactly who and what they're getting. I now feel that a vote for Obama as President is a dangerous choice. I would like to see him return to the Senate and actually prove himself. Right now, he is an arrogant, inexperienced puppet. What a disappointment.

Perhaps in 2012, he will be ready. At this point in time he simply is not. Play acting is not reality and he needs a good dose of it.

[JS]

This poll was taken before his European trip, so it's result will not be in this poll.

I think Andrew Malcolm's string of reporting this week tells what side of the fence he is on. Malcolm, I heard O'Reily is hiring.

[vick]

mccain is old and guys dont forget mccain wins .u ass gona get drafted draft is coming ...........................

[Larry Oregon]

Polls are about as reliable as CBS interviews and Fox racist news.

[Dave J]

The fact that Germans and Frenchmen are "crazy" about Obama means nothing to Americans who don't like to be told whom to vote for. In fact, they might do the opposite to spite them.

[PulSamsara]

Guess you don't need a bounce when your ahead in the polls - you simply need to maintain.

Barack Obama for President of the UNITED States of America.

[David]

The polls dial only land line, home installed telephones.
How many of you in here even have one of those anymore, or pick it up anymore if you do?

Raise your hands, please. Thanks.

And how many in here are cell phone-only and wouldn't answer a strange 1-800 number on it for anything short of a life threatening situation? Raise your hands please.

-holds up his cell phone- http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/07/14/cell_phone/index.html

Make that an 8-10 pt lead. Thank you much.

[Michael Cowan]

How is McCain the stonger of the 2 canidates on Foriegn Affairs?

McCain continues to 'misspeak' when talking about the middle east.

He didn't realise that Iraq and Pakistan do not have a border, he claimed the surge started the Anbar resistance movement when Anbar rose up a full month before the surge.

He originally pointed at the success in Afganistan as proof that the we can win, now that Afganistan is falling apart (again) he claims we need more troops there.

McCain needs to have a stroke 2 weeks before the election.

[JA]

Posted by: kdPhD | July 24, 2008 at 07:24 AM

I find it insulting that during his travels this week he has acted as if he has already won the general election. I don't recall it taking place yet. His assumption that he will win, his arrogance in meeting with leaders in Europe and the Middle East are nothing more than posturing.
______________________________________________
At least Obama didn't 'say' he will win, and if he would say that, he would at least know what month the election in held.
____________________________________________

Sen. John McCain had one of his infamous “senior moments” while speaking at a campaign rally in Nashville today. “If we do everything right — and we can and we will — I will win in January,” he said, “and I will be the next President of the United States.” Watch video:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/06/02/mccains-has-senior-moment-on-the-campaign-trail-i-will-win-in-january/

[Hill supporter 4 McCain in 08]

This senior moment thing is silly. I'm 43 and I have had senior moments like this. It's called thinking ahead. I'm glad one of them is thinking ahead!

The January mention is in reference to the inauguration which occurs in January, which is when the next president begins his term. Read your statement. You can see how this faux pas happened. Give it a rest with his age. Ronald Reagan's presidency was a success and should silence the age controversy.

This world tour is just posturing. First of all, it was suppose to be a trip to evaluate the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Why does he have to tour the world? Why? Political posturing. I feel a little manipulation going on here, almost like coercion. Don't you?

[nancy sabet]

hay you all obama lovers, let's face it , his trip did not help him at all. He is a fraud and no matter how much he is trying to act otherwise , is not going to work. He was selected nominee and treated Hillary, the real winner of the primary, real badly.