Obama gets initial poll bounce over McCain for Berlin, Paris stops

An initial daily tracking poll by Gallup shows that all the media coverage of the European portion of Barack Obama's foreign jaunt has produced a bump in approval for the freshman senator.

Before the trip, designed to produce just such political progress for the Democrat's campaign, Obama had a statistically insignificant two point lead over Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee.

Even during the first days of his field trip in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, Jordan and Israel, the poll numbers held steady.

But Gallup reports a bulge in approval began showing up in polling done while Obama was in Germany and France. His lead is now up to seven points, according to our friends over at the Swamp. Tonight, he returned to his home on Chicago's South Side.

It's 48% for Obama now and 41% for McCain.

Mark Silva has the rest of the new early poll results' details here.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Bob VArgas]

In my view, Obama gave an outstanding historic speech today in Berlin. I was able to compare the tv sound bites from all seven news channels. CNN appeared to give Obama speech the credibility it deserves, mentioning most, if not all, the critical issues that the US and World community is facing today. I was extremely disappointed in the other new channels especially Fox news, appearing to diminish the important of his speech and placing a political spin on his critical outstanding speech. Basically, what I believe he was saying, is that all countries must unite, and stand and fight shoulder to shoulder to resolve these issues and too win the war on terrorism. Of course, he said much more then that. What a wonderful opportunity we have to build lasting relationships with other countries and unite in common purposes, to help resolve these issues, and to help fight the war on terrorism. The terrorists are mobile. They can move from country to country with very little cost compared to our enormous cost in both blood and dollars. That is why the world needs each other, no one country can do it alone. We are all in this together and we must unite and stand together. It is also clear that we must have greater leadership in all fronts in our country, in order to break our own political divide and strongholds. My God, just watch c-span political debates on bills. Not all, but many fight like a bunch of animals. These political fight abuses are disgusting. If it was up to me, I would send these fighters home on an extended leave of absence. Another thing, I just do not understand why John McCain seems to be expressing a narrow mind set. At first, he said things like, I will always say the truth to the American People. I will run a clean campaign. I will stick to the issues. Straight talk, etc. Yet, he keeps hammering Obama over and over on the same issues. At first, he stood for something. Now he seems to become a constant whiner. In a way, I feel sorry for him. But he is doing it to himself. The only reason that I could see, why he is doing this, is that his campaign is putting pressure on him to change his strategy in order too win. But evidently, it appears to be back firing. At first, I had a great deal of respect for him. But now he appears to be converting back to the old era tactics, they simply do not work anymore. He is much better then that. I sincerely hope that he returns to being himself and express his true values once again. Then we could return to the real issues and give the American people a real choice, and opportunities to here several honest debates on the critical issues that we and the world are currently facing. This will help us tremendously in making that critical important decision of who is the best presidential candidate to lead this country in these critically dangerous times. At the very least, the candidates, the media, and all other involved political professionals owe this to the American People. At the best of your ability, please do your part, for we can do ours.

[GM]

His poll numbers should be well ahead. I find it troublesome that many would criticize his trip, where a US Senator, let alone a US citizen and democratic nominee, can receive such widespread affection and respect. If Bush visited any of these places it would be blocked off from any of the "people" of the world as protests surrounded his every move. We should be proud as Americans that one of "us" is bringing us all respect and a new hope with the rest of the world. This whole trip made me quite proud of the influence and praise that we Americans can bring with the right leadership.

[Alex H.]

Sometimes I wonder if the pundits are watching the same speeches as me. Perhaps if they had actually watched the entire speech (as I did), they would not have nit picked his "citizen of the world" comment as somehow un-American (even though he said this after “proud citizen of the United States”), as this comment was entirely consistent with his message of unity.

As for McCain and the blatant conservative pundits, first they were complaining that Obama hadn't traveled to these various (dangerous) regions, and now that he's done this (no thanks to the State Department!), they're complaining again that the media is biased in their coverage by not covering McCain enough! Well, what is McCain doing worth covering besides complaining and fund raising?! The media's certainly covering his complaining enough!

[Randy]

The public perception is continuing grow that the media are just divisions of the Obama for President CAMPAIGN.The race isn't over until the vote is counted folks, and at least some voters think somebody is taking a lot for granted.

[fred]

am i really supposed to believe bob vargas sat down in the span of 2 minutes and wrote that blog, or did he spend a considerable amount of time writing that and posting it on this blog. or... is he one of obama's paid bloggers. i think the latter might be the case. let's get one thing straight. obama is failing in the polls, not surging. the problem for obama is that making speeches and photo opping in europe does not build momentum in the united states. obama can't even admit that the surge of troops was an integral part of success in iraq. i mean, wtf, after a while i start to think that the left would be happy if we were to lose every war. it's like a guilt over winning. the iraqi government has a chance to reconcile and have peace. shouldn't we be fighting for that, and isn't it in interest of all countries that a people be free from tyranny and live free in a democracy.

[dave]

the 'war on terror' was called out as an excuse not only for unscrupulous 'leaders' to enrich themselves, physically 'sacrificing' hundreds of thousands of people, to steal the wealth of whole nations. but the underlying cause is to create false reasons, to herd together the nations of the world, to be enslaved and ruled by one global tyranny. all the candidates hand-picked and groomed to represent the worst of choices, do not qualify to run for office. there's no merit in winning, but losing your country. there's no merit in winning, but losing your freedom. and your freedom is what this is all about. and what the idea of america is all about.
freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. without freedom, happiness cannot exist.

[dave]

(yes, some people did notice obama's presidential campaign logo. complete with the remodeling of the american flag as a new world order keyhole tunnel vision. though all the bright colors are clearly still there, they're now used to cover what seems to indicate the orb of a whole barren world in fiery red, with white stripes converging in parallel alignment, denoting enforced conformity; and with what seems to indicate a bright light in the center rising out of, and into the blue; the stars of the free and self-governed states vanished, sovereignty gone, and wiped away... and yet, the image is a mere projection in a bubble, and could only seem real to those trapped within, their perception confined to a false reduced perspective. the whole symbolic setting demonstrated to be an illusion by the symbolic light source not opening perspective, but eliminating the dimension of conscious self-reflection. this light is fake, not offering orientation, not teaching truth, but rather representing the center of delusion, and its destructive blinding force, blurring and distorting true perspective. a vision of a prison planet deprived of freedom, but unable to see its own bondage. there are no shadows on the walls due to the blinding artificial light. the entrance sealed, the exit blocked, it's like a tomb. buried alive - is that enlightenment - or hell?
is that logo an update version of a certain red flag featuring a white disc with a black inverted swastika?)

[Fareed]

Barack Obama's 7 day trip to World Leaders seemed like a month, and was a brilliant piece of True American Statesmanship. Barack Obama exemplifies the best of America Foreign Policy as a good neighbor willing to live up to American Superiority in Good Works as a World Leader. Thank you Senator Obama.

[Kerry]

Obama’s remarks in Israel regarding his good deeds on the “Senate Banking Committee.” Mr. Obama explained that “his committee” - - the Senate Banking Committee - - had just voted in favor of a bill that provides for sanctioning, and the divesting of revenues out of, Iran.
But Mr. Obama doesn’t serve on the Senate Banking Committee. And he hadn’t “just voted” on anything. Mr. Obama lied to the Israeli reporter. This is the "change" that we can believe it!
Obama's stunning admission that -- the surge only succeeded because of the Sunni "awakening" is a HUGE slap in the fact to all American soldiers and our military. Obama practically said to the world that the US is weak and broken...the Sunni's saved us. You really want this man representing America!

[Mary Porter]

Obama's worked hard on this trip to reframe US policy so it can include the support our allies visibly want the opportunity to provide. Yes, he asked the Germans for their troops in Afghanistan, but he holds up the promise of honesty, transparency and responsibility in pursuit of common goals by US foreign policy, instead of spewing stupid football metaphors. That's how he shows his grasp of the responsibilities of a real commander-in-chief.

Unfortunately, on this side of the Atlantic all discourse of substance is being drowned out by Tucker Bounds' relentless all-spin machine. McCain has let his handlers cobble together petty criticisms of style and logistics, and then rail repetitiously about it like thay have uncovered treason. This mealy-mouthed sanctimony about "our troops" is only the shallowest opportunism. The entire McCain machine, including the candidate, is "on message", but there's no message.

[jon]

I think the slight bump in the polls, is because The People saw, and heard, Obama directly, for the first time in a while.
Most of the coverage of him, since he clinched the nomination, has been talking heads scrutinizing him, endlessly.
On the other hand, the media refuses to scrutinize McCain.
All they do is perpetuate the McCain narrative (myth), that he's the Maverick, Hero, GOP defying, Straight-talking Foeign Policy whiz, despite evidence to the contrary.
So, the race tightened, as the result of the one-sided scrutiny. All of McCain's flubs, flips, and lies, have largely gone ignored.
This week, the electorate got to see Obama again, this time on the world stage. At the same time, they got to see McCain incessantly attacking Obama personally, & just whine a lot. So much for the clean campaign, McCain said he wanted. At the same time, while Obama does criticize McCain's policies, he never attacks the man.
Obama's walking his talk. McCain is proving to be a myth.

[Aleks]

How nice it'll be not to have a brainless clown representing us anymore.

[Hamdan Jabareen]

The freshman Barack Obama plays the game better than McCain because he have irregular campaign, his way of speach irregular and his look irregular, I think he will be easily the next presedent of US.

[Alessandro Machi]

The net effect will probably prove negative over time. The soldier who sent an email that Obama walked right by his platoon and straight for the basketball area has been punished.

Obama keeps choosing the path of narcissism. Obama chose to go where ever there was a photo op and ignore the more heartfelt one on one situations with american soldiers.

The guy is a gold digger.

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[christopher]

Gramps and his Faux news crew come off looking green with envy because they cannot inspire the way Sen. Obama does. Rather than whine because the media is covering an exciting candidate they should be trying to find ways for grandpa to generate some excitement. Right now he is sounding like a whiny little biyatch.

[Simon]

Obama appeals to the heart, but not to the mind. There are many powerful orators in the world who can stir the hearts and emotions of people. Obama is one of them. As a politician, he is expected to draft policies, negotiate deals and resolve conflicts, so that America moves forward as a nation. Impassioned speeches just do not cut it.

I feel Obama is in the mold of inspirational speakers; but he is no Churchill or Roosvelt. He can win hearts, but leave the intellect untouched.

[Ron]

When Phil Graam was talking abot a nation of whiners, He was talking about his friend John McCain..... Pathetic.

[Teddy]

I had my doubts about Obama's readiness. But those images with world leaders really changed my opinion of the guy. He looked and behaved very presidential. McCain on the other hand, behaved reckless and irresponsible---i don't like this new McCain.

[Robert]

I too am very impressed with Barrack Obama's foreign visit. It shows he's got the right stuff to take America forward where she has needed to lead since November of 2000. Unfortunately right now, the press is being controlled by right wing extremists in America in trying to keep this from putting the final nail in the Republicans coffin.

I also feel sorry for John McCain. It is a real shame he didn't become the Republican nominee instead of our current President for the 2000 election. America would have been given real leadership instead of phony evangelism and hypocritical faith.

Obama's visit shows he has foreign policy credentials - not just "let's blast 'em" Republican BS. I would even say that the whole aura of Obama's travel carries the coherence of world leadership for the 21st century with the same type of spirit that Teddy Roosevelt had at the launching of the last century. Speak softly, but carry a big stick. Obama sells out to no one - unlike what the right wing extremists in America try to paint him out to be. He is clear that terrorism is not an enemy nation that a military establishment is designed to confront and win. Neither is it all of Islam as a religious enemy. It is an extremist mentality fueled by Islamic religious fervor through misinterpretatons of their faith. (Be careful America, ultra-conservative Christians are on the verge of the same thing). But Obama is clear that "go it alone, pre-emptive" foreign policy is a loser doctrine for the USA.

Basically he accomplished the following:
1. Standing as a friend to Israel. (in your face - Lieberman)
2. Being open and fair to the Palestinian issue and Semitic peoples overall concerns. (in your face Dubya - and yes, anti-Semitism is anti-Arab, anti-Muslim also - they are all "Semitic" people)
3. Showing that Iran will not get a free ticket to pass "Go" when Obama becomes President. (in your face - Bolton)
4. REPAIRING and HEALING the NATO alliance (shame on you President Bush) to keep Western civilization together to fight terrorism - not to divide it with "America calls all the shots guys - west Texan protestant pickup truck cowboy style)
5. Zero "flip-flop" on Iraq withdrawal. No selling short the soldiers wounded in Iraq - soldiers who should have never been sent there in the first place. (Sorry, John McCain - you're the loser in this attack on Obama)
6. Focusing on where the real war against terrorism was and still is - Afghanistan and the Pakistani border area.
7. No wars for personal interests. (We had much bigger fish to fry in the Middle-East than Saddam Hussein - George)

The next thing I would like to see from Obama is more of the same leadership on how to clean up our infrastructure to better thwart terrorist attempts internally and to mature the population in how to deal with it. In other words, real security for Americans. It will be very refreshing to have no more fear tactics to subjugate the American population to follow repugnican political goals. Americans are too smart for this BS and Obama certainly will be more than a breath of fresh air.

[Goldie]

While Obama was standing tall on the world stage, McCain was showing his bitterness and whining about it back home. Of course, McCain challenged Obama to go on the trip just like McCain himself did this spring, meeting world leaders and giving speeches in Canada and Columbia. McCain is showing his bad temperament by his ranting and raving about Obama. I have to laugh about McCain criticizing Obama about visiting the troops in the hospital when the Pentagon said Obama couldn't go with his campaign staff. McCain is the one who did not support benefits for the veterans of this war. McCain is the one who does not support the troops when it is needed with legislation for veterans benefits.

[08vote]

Bob Vargas, thank you for your insightful thoughts....too bad the same can't be said about some in the MSM. Europe and the Middle East saw the obvious and saw Obama's trip for what it was - a vision, hope, new post War relations with the rest of the world for better understanding, peace, and prosperity.

[Daniel]

Well said, Mr. Vargas. I wanted to add that no one has pointed out the fact that 'getting the rest of the world back on our side' is one of the points that needs improving with our country, something that Senator Obama seems to have done already.

[jamesincalifornia]

"I sincerely hope that he returns to being himself and express his true values once again." -- Bob Vargas @ 10.17 p.m.
---------------------------------------------------

Unfortunately, Bob, these are his true values.

Remember, this is a man who crashed one Navy plane after another because of his reckless bravado. One of his wrecks, on the deck of a carrier ship, resulted in the death of many sailors.

This is a man who, fearing torture, made propaganda tapes for the North Vietnamese.

This is a man who committed adultery in a particularly obnoxious way. When his first wife was disabled in a car accident, he cheated on her and eventually left her to marry Cindy, his rich and beautiful lover.

This is a man who claimed to be against torture but then sided with President Bush on the issue of waterboarding and voted against legislation to ban it.

This a man who decried using wounded servicemen for political publicity. But when, to avoid that sort of thing, Obama called off a scheduled visit to wounded troops in Germany, McCain condemned him.

Despite his popular image, John McCain is not a decent, straight-talking man.

[Pedro]

Popular polls are invariably 6 - 8% too liberal for the electoral college vote. At 48 - 41, we are in an actual tie (McCain was leading until now). I'm for Obama. Check out the history of popular Gallup polls v. electoral college vote if you can find it.

[Brian Peterson]

Wow! Obama goes to Iraq and suddenly the war is over! He visits overseas once and suddenly the world has hope and loves the US again! He leads and the Bush admin. and McCain jump right in line and follow. Look at what he's done without even being president! If you don't realize he's the best thing to happen to America and he is the way forward, then you're going to cause yourself harm. C'mon, join the party, there's a chance for America to regain its luster. Hop on or fall behind!