Poll: Voters picking McCain over Obama & Clinton - Houston we may have a problem!

[demo dutch]

quote
Voters are saying they would like to see a Democrat in the White House, but picking Republican John McCain over Democrats Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. When likely voters are asked about match ups between specific candidates, Sen. McCain holds a slight lead over either Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama, though McCain's advantage is within the poll's margin of error

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18620958

(The poll was conducted for NPR Jan. 29-31, by Public Opinion Strategies and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research. )
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There's a disconnect, they would prefer a Dem in WH and they're preferring McCain.
But One thing is clear:
War is no longer the deciding factor. (I've been trying to tell Du-ers all week!) The country has moved on to the economy and is far less obsessed with the "resolution vote". At the onset 73 % was for the War, and now they just want to get the economy on it's feet, put an end to Iraq, and get health care (That's the order of preference)

This story ran on NPR and further commentary was:
"Hillary has the best ability to turn out the Dem base and Obama appeals to younger voters and SOME Indies"

Now of course the good news is that democrats are pouring out to the polls, but make no mistake folks, there is the potential for a Dem screw-up if we don't play this right and manage to at least unite the party behind the nominee, because it's starting to look like we will need every DEM vote we can get plus convince a large amount of Indies! I think that the election will have its fair share of surprises.

So what are the answers? ... does it look like considering a Dream-team is out?

Let's discuss, and please spare me your anti-Hillary and anti-Obama rhetoric, since McCain holds a slight lead over both candidates. For those who like neither, these are the candidates we will have to work with, so complaining is a moot point.

[TexasObserver]

1. OUTLIER!! that is an outlier poll.

McCain?

Bring that crazy old man on!! He will get his butt handed to him in November.

[demo dutch]

2. I hope so!

[demo dutch]

4. The poll was conducted for NPR Jan. 29-31, by Public Opinion Strategies and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner

[snooper2]

5. I call him Mr. Wobble

He kind of bounces to the left and right and has that stiff left arm " down and to the left " thing going on...

Will look like a fool at any debate against either top Dem Candidate...

[Iwasthere]

3. There will be more like this

We are being setup

[demo dutch]

6. Setup for what a McCain win?

[UALRBSofL]

7. I don't think that will happen

I believe a large portion of independents will vote for a democrat this cycle and for obvious reasons that the economy is there main concern.

[Webster Green]

8. Framing..

The "war" is a major reason the economy is fucked!

McCain wants endless war.

[demo dutch]

10. I know that doesn't look like voters are getting it according to this poll anyway

[Webster Green]

28. Bingo!

Dems need to frame it up properly. It's easy to get folks to vote against this bullshit. Hope they figure it out!

[Didereaux]

9. I oretty much agree, but at present few Dems seem willing to face the reality.

Solution? None that I or probably you can effect. We can whistle and yell, but we cannot stop stampeding hogs...we can only step aside and watch the slaughter.

[demo dutch]

12. It seems no one wants to seriously discuss this. Seems all are tied in hate

for one candidate or the other! It's depressing!

[pampango]

11. Democrats are always confident that we can beat any excuse for a candidate

that the Republicans can put forward. ;)

Not saying that we always do beat them, but we are always confident. We have TRUTH, JUSTICE and the AMERICAN WAY on our side, don't you know.

Seriously, reconciliation may be a little harder than earlier campaigns. Then it was two old white guys going at each other. Whichever one, there were issues of character and policy positions to reconcile, but race and gender were not issues.

Now with two such solid candidates either women or African Americans (neither totally, but to some extent) are going to feel that their first-of-a-kind excellent and viable candidate for president has come up short. Having not tasted the presidential nomination before, then coming this close only to be frustrated, is going to be a little harder (not impossible) to deal with their disappointment and unify the party for the GE.

Still these are exciting times. Wouldn't have it any other way.

[cyclezealot]

13. Americans often vote for myth over reality.

McCain triangulates with the likes of Feingold to present himself as a moderate. When in fact,he might very well out Neocon GW Bush. Bush took his surge idea from McCain. Reason Magazine's Matt Welch looks at the real McCain. We have known Hillary enjoys real negatives and How will McCain take on a US senator who spouts poetry. I fear we will have a real hard time overcoming Hillary's negatives and McCain's macho image.

Be Afraid of President McCain
http://www.reason.com/news/show/118937.html

“The Myth of a Maverick”: Matt Welch on GOP Frontrunner John McCain

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/4/the_myth_of_a_maverick_matt

[demo dutch]

26. That's just so depressing!

[BenDavid]

14. Oh my goodness.....If an early poll showing you losing then

Bill Clinton should have dropped out of the race in 92. Hell, he was even behind Perot and Bush. Then again in 96 in early polling he was losing to Dole...Can ya believe that?

So if early polling is showing clinton and obama behind that is good...maybe just maybe the pollsters decided to ask a few more people in red states to get this sample...Do ya think maybe this could happen? Hell yes.....So to me this is a good sign....

[demo dutch]

16. It worries me, when my A-political Dem mother-in-law says she likes McCain

because he is a "straight talker"

[jzodda]

15. Long time till November

These polls are meaningless.

1. The Dem nominees are in a slam down fight right now while they are saying McCain can be the nominee tomorrow night. Once we have a nominee then the real polling can begin.

2. Wait till the voters learn McCain's position on healthcare, and keeping bush tax cuts for rich during a recession.

3. Recession: Its just starting- Repubs in Power and the party in power usually pays a price for it. Its very early.

4. Iraq: McCain acts like he was behind the surge when he just supported it. Also things can turn bad fast in Iraq. The De-Baathification law seems to have problems and what about the bombings? They seem to be going up again. Largest one since Surge began just struck. What about the Kurds? Kirkuk can erupt or the Turkish border at any time.


I actually like McCain as many people do in this country. His ability to cross the isle and work with Dems is proven. His years as a POW have earned him my respect but not my vote. On policy? Hes on the losing or unpopular side of many issues and once we have a nominee its going to burn him badly. Those polls will change.

[quinnox]

17. McCain has a good chance to win

I think Hillary could stop him, but it will be tough. Obama would lose to McCain.

I am prepared that Hillary might lose to McCain, but I am hoping she beats him.

[jzodda]

20. We live in strange times

The conservatives are trying to destroy the one guy who on their side has a chance to actually win after 8 years of disaster bush. I still think we will win because on policy we have better positions on where to take this country. What worries me is that in a general election McCain could abandon the right wing totally and triangulate to take on many of our nominee's positions. Then we may be in trouble.

[demo dutch]

27. I hear both side of that equation, other Repugs preferring Obama. It seems

it's pretty much split now. It's making me very nervous, the thought of losing the WH again is sooo depressing! Maybe we need to combined the Dem front runners into one ticket as the team that persuades both

[RiverStone]

18. Relax - here is a M$M (cnn) poll w/Obama & Clinton beating McCain & Romney

Hot of the press this a.m.

Looking ahead to the general election in November, Clinton tops McCain 50 percent to 47 percent and beats Romney 56 to 41 in hypothetical matchups. Obama beats McCain 52 percent to 44 percent and tops Romney 59 percent to 36 percent.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/04/national.poll/index.html

[demo dutch]

19. That's good news. still though I would have thought the margins to be much bigger

[BlackVelvet04]

21. I'm not surprised....

Democrats are doing the work for them.

[demo dutch]

25. Sad isn't it!

[Zookeeper]

22. There is something very unhealthy about the degree of...

McCain's presidential ambitions. Even though he was smeared by the rumor planted by the Bush machine that he fathered a black child, he still ended up supporting Bush and even hugging him. I feel nauseous every time I think of this photo:

The image “” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

I can't respect or trust someone who is willing to kiss the ass of the person who stabbed them in the back.

[jacksonian]

24. agreed that picture creeps me every time

and giving in to someone who smears you like Bush did smacks of the worst kind of quid pro quo, pressure-to-bear asskissing.

[Coexist]

23. Nope.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/national.html

Clinton is not doing well against McCain, but Obama beats him most times.