Barack Obama thumping John McCain in several key states, new polls report

"Wow," Barack Obama said the other day as he gazed upon an estimated crowd of 100,000 in St. Louis waiting to hear him speak.

"Wow," The Ticket said to itself today after two polling groups released results for several of the most hotly contested states in the presidential race.

John McCain, as part of the feisty underdog role he has taken on, likes to zing Obama for "measuring the drapes" at the White House. If these new findings are even close to being right, Obama can start taking contracting bids for that basketball court he wants to install at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The jaw-dropping numbers come from the Big Ten Battleground Poll, which is supervised by two University of Wisconsin political science professors. The survey finds Obama ahead -- BY DOUBLE DIGITS -- in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota (as well as his home state of Illinois and Michigan, where McCain pulled up stakes a few weeks ago).

The error margin for the figures from each state is a relatively high plus-or-minus 4.2 percentage points. But even after subtracting Obama's numbers by that amount -- and increasing McCain's numbers by it -- the Democrat still runs ahead in every state. That includes Indiana, which no Democratic presidential candidate has carried since 1964.

Said Charles Franklin, one of the poll's directors: "In September, we saw virtually the entire Big Ten (region) as a battleground. Now Obama is clearly winning. ... The dominance of the economy as a top issue for voters is the overwhelming story.”

The polling institute for Quinnipiac University also shows Obama easily winning Ohio (by 14 points) and Pennsylvania (by 13 points).

One small bit of solace for McCain -- the Quinnipiac survey shows him down only 5 points in Florida; earlier this month, the group's polling found him trailing by 8 points.

Still, Peter Brown, the institute's assistant director, decided not to understate what the trends portend. "If these numbers hold up, (Obama) could win the biggest Democratic landslide since Lyndon Johnson in 1964," he said.

Might that be the final shock provided by this historic campaign?

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[bakarani]

Go Obama! We are with you all the way to the white house!

[frank burns]

the terrorists want to scare you into voting for the most Bush-like candidate.

[teresa]

These polls are taken of people with a listed home phone right? Has anyone considered the fact that many Americans don't have 'home phones' any more and their only phone is a cell, for which the number is unlisted?

[jaspelli]

Hey lets see why Obama the man who said 2yrs(only after 1yr in office) ago he would never run for president. No hes a top candidate!! Anybody who jumps to become president so quickly scares me. Who wants a lieing manipulative person in office? I dont. Who wants a career politician as president? I dont. The only reason why he beat Hillary in the primaries and has a chance now is pathetic and makes me sad to say but its coming down to be just that. He's not white. Their were survey up the wazoo (3 being major cities) showing that the color of his skin played a hugh factor in the primaries. And just recently Howard Stern went around Harlem and switched up mccains polices and VP with Obama and asked people how they thought of obamas policies and they all supported OBAMA FOR HIS STAND AGAINST STEMCELL RESEARCH, FOR OBAMA CHOOSING SARAH PALIN AS HIS VP, FOR HIS STANCE SAYING THAT WE SHOULD KEEP TROOPS IN IRAQ AS LONG AS THEY NEED. Please help our nation of ignorance.

[small1ldy]

My prayers are finally being answered!! The folks are taking back control of their country!! God bless our America and god bless her citizens.....

[reader01]

obama's gonna need a landslide to safely overcome the "lost" ballots and voting machine "malfunctions."

i do NOT want another presidency decided by the courts.

obama 08

[Sammy]

yes go Obama Iran and Russia are going to love ya. O and don't forget Odinga he is counting on ya. America will regret it.

[Gowda]

Go Obama ,,,,!!!!
Go Obama,,!!!!!
We are there with u,,,,!!!!
U can get back the America,, as it was in Clinton Period,,,
Republician are A$$#**$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$4
GO OBAMA,,,, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[lightnin]

Here's a reason why Obumma SHOULDN'T win! Obama wants to make YOU a criminal if you try to PROTECT yourself and your family from attackers in your own home! He's voted to do just that! Cut & paste this into your browser:

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/22/nra-ad-imagine/

Then make an INFORMED decision!

[scootmandubious]

I think the fatal flaw in John McCain's campaign has to be Sarah Palin.

There are those that will not vote for Senator Obama, because of race. It is impolite to say, but I have seen and heard enough 'coded' comments to know this is true. Sadly, some people are even blatant about it.

However, the McCain campaign can't be guaranteed of those votes, because many of those same people have an equal, if not larger distaste for Palin. In Palin's case, it isn't just her gender (though bigots are bigots), it is her continued demonstration of being totally unprepared for public office. And there is probably an even greater fear of that because of McCain's advanced age and health history.

Additionally, Senator Obama has shown people his demeanor is presidential. And that is what has swayed some of those who initially would not vote for him, because of an initial prejudice.

Just my 2 cents.

http://scootmandubious.blogspot.com

[GC]

So how many of the crazy Hilary Clinton devouts are still with McCain at this point?

[mujtaba]

God Speed Obama. You are the only ray of hope where none exist.

[LEB]

I would be so proud of my country if Obama became our next president! Not just that, but I would be the most positive I have been in in 20 years!

Obama is the person we need leading this nation back to prosperity. We need to regain the world's respect. We need to improve ourselves domestically economically, academically and financially. Obama would do this, McCain would do 90% of what Bush would do.

No More Bush Like Policies! Those didn't work these past 8 years.

Obama 08!!!

[kb]

John McCain and Sarah Palin stretched their imagination and thought that Joe the Plumber would be a good symbol of the average American. People are out of work with a lot more losing their jobs daily. Families are losing their homes at a terrible rate. People are now choosing to buy food for the family or pay the mortgage and McCain /Palin are all bent out of shape about some plumber who already has a job but want to buy a business that will bring him $250,000 per year.

[NinaK]

Wow!! I hope the trend continues not only in the battle ground states but throughout the entire United States!!

Since McCains believe and has told the nation that the southern part of Pennsylvania "is the most patriotic and the most God loving part of the country, it clearly sends a message to the rest of America that McCain percieves us as somehow not being patriotic and that we do not love and believe in God and therefore are Anti-Amercan, un-American.

Since Sarah Palin believes only small towns in Virginia are PRO America, she sends a clear message to the rest of us that she thinks we are anti-American, Un-American and that the rest of the United States' population are NOT Americans and therefore the enemies of what she percives as PRO American.

Then you have the female senator, Micelle Baufmann, from Minnesota who "absolutey believes Senator Obama has anti Ameican views" and then calls for a vetting of members of congress by the media to find who is anti-American.

The sad part is that their hard-core right-wing followers actually believe all of this insanity! I would recommend that all of us who find this kind of rhetoric offensive and downright disgusting get out the vote and vote for the gentlemen who want to UNITE US, THE PEOPLE: BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN. They are the candidates of UNITY, REAL CHANGE, HOPE, BELIEVERS IN ALL AMERICANS, AND WHO WANT TO LIFT UP OUR COUNTRY. WE, THE PEOPLE, who are being discriminated against by McCain, Palin, Baufmann and their ilk MUST send a clear message to these folks that we will NOT TOLERATE being thrown under the bus!!! Let's get out there and vote for Obama and Biden who truely CARE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY AND ALL, I REPEAT, ALL AMERICANS!! YES, WE CAN, FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!!!!

[Anna B]

This would be such a wonderful final statement on the extreme failure of the neocon Bush/Cheney positions!

GOBAMA!!! We love you & need you!!!

Obama/Biden - '08/12!!! All the way - finally real change to hellp REAL Americans!

[TeeJ]

Thoughts on some of the rhetoric.
Every President ever elected has been tested on an international level. The use of "Socialist/ism" is not only incorrect and overused it is devisive and should be insulting to everybody.
While I commend and admire John McCain's service and POW time, he has by his own words at times in the past, admitted that he was a spoiled, child of priviledge. His military family was not of the 'common enlisted' personnel but rather a long standing military family of the highest admirality. At school, he nearly flunked out, grandpa saved him the 1st time, dad the 2nd, mom the last.
The "palling around with terroists" quotes are without merit. The Annenberg foundation, was founded by a well respected Replubican! Yet this seems to be simply forgotten/overlooked by the Repubs. Anumber of other well respected people were on that board as well and they are not being vilified.
McCain was very close with Keating. It is a quick closed book that - ... he was not found to have committed any wrongdoing. All done, plain and simple. Yet on and on with Ayers.
neither party is perfect, both bear much responsibility for our current issues. The reason being - no one really works together for the regular American on main street. It's a perpetual Super Bowl game.
And my last thought going with the sports anaology, on the so-called "surge": when you show up with half the damn team and start the game strong but at half-time you realise things are not working out as you imagined because your guys are getting tired and you underestimated the opposition. Putting the rest of the team in is not a stroke of brilliance, it is the simple common sense thing that should have been done in the 1st place. Had the whole team been playing from the beginning, the "surge" would not have been needed. Therefore making the "surge" a moot point.

[Kirk Muse]

A vote for John McCain is a vote for a
Sarah Palin presidency. McCain has already
outlived his father by two years and his
grandfather by eleven years.

McCain's father died of a stroke at age 70
and his grandfather died of a heart attack
at age 61.

[jonny bullet]

I was watching a show w/my grand daughter called sponge bob square pants and saw McCain flipping and flopping, O.K. it wasn't McCain but he loves to flip-flop. He loves to lie a lot too. Nasty, creepy & Palin, she is about as smart as a bag of hammers and that would be a compliment. In fact that whole crew is bad news! I,m a Republican and I can't vote for that ticket w/a clear conscience.

[Mike]

Jaspelli,

Lesser individuals are usually frightened by greater men & women, so please don't feel so frightened. Maybe a glass of warm milk and cookies in the evening would help?

Oh... and I guess that one of the major reasons that previous candidates were assured of winning, was because they were white?

Jaspelli... another lame individual who gazes merely upon the surface, in all things.

[brian]

teresa--
People who don't have home phones (in favor of cell phones) would be younger peope, who'll be voting for obama by a large margin. ditto for poor folks, ditto for college students.
Obama by 150 electoral votes!

[Robert NYC]

$605 million and he is not ahead by like 20 points?

These polls are all cooked and biased just as the media is.

If Obama had ANY qualities thatw ould make him a good President he certainly would not have outspent his opponet by hundreds of millions of dollars and still only secured a few point lead.

A) that's pretty pathetic
B) look at the results he gets for 3 times the money? How tight a budget is he going to run?
C) Looks like Obama loses to me - he has just a slim lead after spending a HALF BILLION DOLLARS? That is called relative weakness and will play out on election day.
$605 MILLION? Holy crap!

[Josh]

You mean the racists want to scare you into voting for more of the same. God forbid someone other than an Old White Man be POTUS.

[Guy S.]

I love when the Righties proceed to insult us Obama supporters, and then act like we should check their virus-infected websites to be 'convinced' to change our choice.

Cmon ... Get real ..... We support Obama because he has superior policies and an inclusive vision of America, NOT because we are 'ascared' of the big bad wolf.

Come November: You will get what you deserve for your antics these last decades: The Drubbing of the Century.

McCain sealed his fate when he picked Palin .... He lost the Independents through his bad judgement.

The landslide victory will just be the icing on the cake ....

[Kimmo]

I like John McCain and Sarah Palin but I am not voting for them.
I am not going to call Republicans any rude names.

I do not care if a Flying Monkey Republican Dysfunctional talking head says something utterly stupid.

I have given considerable thought to who I would support and it is Obama and Biden.

From this point on, I am unable to be swayed away from my decision.

I feel good.

[Abe]

I am certainly having trouble with Obama's tax math. Here is what I understand - please let me know if I am missing something:
1) The federal budget already has a massive deficit.
2) Obama is going to add $800 billion to a $trillion in additional spending.
3) Not calculated in this extra spending are the earmarks which will be added on by the Democrats in congress and could add significantly to that amount.
4) Obama is going to give a tax cut or tax credit to 95% of American workers.
5) He is going to make the top 5% of Americans pay for all this by taxing them a little more.

This doesn't add up to me. What am I missing?

[lightnin]

Here's an example of "democratic" financial responsibility:

WHO screwed up Social Security??

When Social Security began the "democrats" SAID:

Participation would be VOLUNTARY.

The contributions would be TAX-DEDUCTIBLE.

The funds wouldn't be used for anything ELSE, and

interest would ADD to the account.

The payouts would NEVER BE TAXED.

LBJ & demo majorities in the House and Senate put the

funds in the General Fund so they could use it for

their pet projects (PORK), no interest adds to the

fund now!

CARTER & demo majorities in the House and Senate

gave Social Security to immigrants who had never

PAID IN!

CLINTON & demo majorities in the House and Senate

made the CONTRIBUTIONS taxable, AND made the

PAYOUTS taxable! (Al Gore cast the deciding vote on

the payouts!)

OBAMA wants to GIVE Social Security to the 11 million

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS that are here, ALONG WITH

Medicare! (Think more or them will come then to get

in on THAT?) AND, with demo majorities in the House

and Senate, he'll SUCCEED!

AND, after all THAT, the "democrats" have the GALL to

blame Republicans for the mess Social Security is in!

[Jen]

Robert NYC:
Sounds like sour grapes. Everyone knows that race is a drag on Obama's numbers so no point playing stupid about that.

Republicans keep saying that McCain is healthy but it's not just his age and previous bouts of cancer that are an issue. Anything can happen to anyone at anytime - there are no guarantees. A "President Palin" would be the downfall of the United States of America. Heck, I'm not sure how someone so incredibly ignorant and unethical became a governor. Shame.

[Richard]

I was a lifelong Republican but I can't in all good conscience vote for McCain/Palin. As George Will said, she is not ready to be Vice-President. If people really love their country they will vote their conscience and vote for Obama/Biden!

[Political Cynic]

Several analyses have been done on the impact of "cell phone only" users in polling. They all conclude the same thing: If there is any variation in polling results because of an under-polling of cell phone only users, the results would favor Obama by anywhere from 1 to 2 points.

Cell phone only users are basically not McCain voters.

[Jean]

Attn: GC
October 23, 2008 10:58 AM

Many of us crazy HILLARY SUPPORTERS ARE STILL HERE and we will vote for McCain/Palin. We are quiet because we don't want to read your hateful attacks. We are now quietly supporting McCain/Palin because Obama is a fraud who we could never vote for. Watch for us Nov. 4.

[Seni]

OBAMA ZOMBIES,

Stop counting your chickens before your eggs hatch.

[Nate Peele]

I completely disagree. Didn't anybody notice the AP poll that came out yesterday? Now that we've discovered that 45% of all the voters November 4th are going to be Evangelical Christians I think McCain has an excellent chance to win the Presidency. He has a huge lead in real America already.

http://thatsrightnate.com/2008/10/20/polls-show-mccain-dominating-real-america/

[Dysfunctional Flying Monkey]

Hi

I'm a dysfunctional flying monkey. I thought this over & I am voting for Obama.

For the entertainment value she has brought to this election, I think Sarah Palin should get to keep her fancy clothes from Neiman-Marcus and Saks 5th Avenue.

We are amused.
Bad Mad Monkeys for Obama

[lightnin]

Isn't it surprising that Obama, Biden, the DNC, their media storm troopers, Hollywood and music celebrity minions, and "democrats" in general explode in displays of visceral hatred against Sarah Palin "racist, KKK, nazi", Palin's family, and to a lesser extent, McCain, and anyone else who dares oppose them, but they can't find any fault with "Rev." (God Damn America/America invented the Aids virus to kill Black people) Wright and his "church", which Obama and his family attended for the past 20 years with no complaint about the racism or anti-American diatribes Wright was spewing (even though Wright and that "church" were receiving $15 million in taxpayer dollars over the last 15 years)! Wright WAS also Obama's campaign's "Spiritual Advisor" til Wright's enormous ego made him spill the beans! They likewise find no fault with Ayers & Dohrne, who founded the Weather Underground, that bombed the Capital, the Pentagon, police stations, and killed several people. Obama served on boards, committees, "civic projects", etc. with Ayers, his wife worked with him, they socialized with Ayers & Dohrne, have friends in common with them (i.d. Rashid Khalidi, who has ties to the PLO), and Obama's Illinois Senate run was announced from Ayers living room (Obama says Ayers "lived in his neighborhood!) In 2004 or 2005, Ayers said he only wished they had done MORE bombing, he's been photographed trampling the American Flag underfoot and grinning, but Obama says he "thought Ayers had been rehabilitated"! NOT rehabilitated, NOT repentent, avowed Marxist, vehemently says so in public, but Obama "didn't know about any of that"! He knows about it NOW, have you ever heard Obama denounce Ayers and Dohrne? Wright? No, just "some of their past activities". How about Rezko, Obama's convicted criminal buddy, who gave him $1.6 million and a corrupt real-estate deal? How about Mazen Asbahi, Obama's "Islamic Advisor", who had to quit when his Hamas connections were discovered? What about the fact that Obama SUPPORTS Partial-Birth Abortion, the most bestial, sadistic "medical procedure" allowed in this country, against the most innocent and helpless victims, voted AGAINST the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, which protects babies who survive abortion attempts and are born alive from being killed or left alone to die (he was the only Illinois Senator to speak against it) and even NARAL wasn't for that, but he ALSO has stated that women should have some period of time after a baby is born to decide if they want it KILLED! What part of THIS GUY IS A MONSTER do you not understand?? Think Jesus would approve of Mr. Obama?
Never hear a word of criticism from anyone on the Obama side, do we? They don't CARE what Obama, his wife, or any of their associates have ever said or done! They have NO problem with racism, anti-Americanism, criminal connections, corruption, or abortion extremism, so long as those involved support Obama. No better definition of hypocrisy or "low-life" will ever be found.

[Teri Foss]

Has there been a more hopeful sign of better times ahead in years? Even if the whole world comes crumbling down from all the neglect and outright abusive policies of the last eight years--and the destructive undermining that the Republican Party has been methodically working towards for years--we'll have a leader that will know how to unite the whole of the country toward rebuilding this great nation to its original promise of greatness. As Colin Powell indicated, Obama has the potential to be one of the "great" presidents. Amen to the God speed comment!