ID :
14970
Tue, 08/05/2008 - 18:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/14970
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McCain slightly ahead of Obama in opinion polls
Sridhar Krishnaswami.
Washington, Aug 5 (PTI) As the race for the White House hots up, Republican presidential nominee John McCain has for the first time wrested a small but insignificant lead over his Democratic rival Barack Obama.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday showed that the race for the White House is tied with Obama and McCain each attracting 44 percent of the vote. But when the "leaners" are included, it's McCain 47 percent and Obama 46 percent.
This is the first time McCain has enjoyed even a statistically insignificant advantage of any sort since Obama clinched the Democratic nomination June 3.
A week ago, Obama had a three-percentage point lead and the candidates were even among unaffiliated voters. Monday, McCain leads 52 percent to 37 percent.
McCain is current favourite of nation's voters with 55 percent votes as compared to Obama's 51 percent, lowest rating for the Illinois Senator since he wrapped up the nomination.
Obama is viewed favourably by 83 percent of Democrats, 22 percent of Republicans, and 47 percent of unaffiliated voters. For McCain, the numbers are 87 percent among Republicans, 26 percent among Democrats and 61 percent among unaffiliated voters.
Forty-six percent of voters trust McCain on energy issues while Obama is trusted by 42 percent.
The daily tracking poll comes at a time when both the candidates are trying to see what is the best time to announce their running mates with the campaign advisors making sure to have the best advantage given the Olympics factor and the time of the national conventions.
Political analysts say both the Obama and the McCain campaigns are looking at taking away the advantage from the other in what is known as the "bounce" factor.
More than the "bounce" media and election specialists are also looking at the most favourable candidates. With the former top runner Hillary Rodham Clinton now seemingly out of Vice President race, the focus is on whether Obama will go for beefing up advantages in the ticket by way of geography or the so-called "inexperience" in foreign affairs.
One line of thinking is that Obama will go for a candidate to make up for a traditional "red" state like Virginia or go for some one like Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana to ensure that the Mid West falls in line.
One of the names also doing the rounds is that of former Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia, who is an expert on national security issues including nuclear non proliferation.
In McCain's case, a name frequently mentioned is that of Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota. Pawlenty, who visited India last year along with a large business delegation, has said he is "honoured" to have his name mentioned.
Conservative columnists have been persisting with the Indian American Governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal but seasoned political observers say this was not in a serious reckoning with the age difference--Jindal is about the half the age of McCain-- going to the disadvantage and not to the advantage of the Arizona Senator.
Further senior Republican leaders in the Indian American community believe that Jindal does not have sufficient traction within the community to make a big difference to McCain, politically or by way of bringing in big bucks.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday showed that the race for the White House is tied with Obama and McCain each attracting 44 percent of the vote. But when the "leaners" are included, it's McCain 47 percent and Obama 46 percent.
This is the first time McCain has enjoyed even a statistically insignificant advantage of any sort since Obama clinched the Democratic nomination June 3.
A week ago, Obama had a three-percentage point lead and the candidates were even among unaffiliated voters. Monday, McCain leads 52 percent to 37 percent.
McCain is current favourite of nation's voters with 55 percent votes as compared to Obama's 51 percent, lowest rating for the Illinois Senator since he wrapped up the nomination.
Obama is viewed favourably by 83 percent of Democrats, 22 percent of Republicans, and 47 percent of unaffiliated voters. For McCain, the numbers are 87 percent among Republicans, 26 percent among Democrats and 61 percent among unaffiliated voters.
Forty-six percent of voters trust McCain on energy issues while Obama is trusted by 42 percent.
The daily tracking poll comes at a time when both the candidates are trying to see what is the best time to announce their running mates with the campaign advisors making sure to have the best advantage given the Olympics factor and the time of the national conventions.
Political analysts say both the Obama and the McCain campaigns are looking at taking away the advantage from the other in what is known as the "bounce" factor.
More than the "bounce" media and election specialists are also looking at the most favourable candidates. With the former top runner Hillary Rodham Clinton now seemingly out of Vice President race, the focus is on whether Obama will go for beefing up advantages in the ticket by way of geography or the so-called "inexperience" in foreign affairs.
One line of thinking is that Obama will go for a candidate to make up for a traditional "red" state like Virginia or go for some one like Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana to ensure that the Mid West falls in line.
One of the names also doing the rounds is that of former Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia, who is an expert on national security issues including nuclear non proliferation.
In McCain's case, a name frequently mentioned is that of Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota. Pawlenty, who visited India last year along with a large business delegation, has said he is "honoured" to have his name mentioned.
Conservative columnists have been persisting with the Indian American Governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal but seasoned political observers say this was not in a serious reckoning with the age difference--Jindal is about the half the age of McCain-- going to the disadvantage and not to the advantage of the Arizona Senator.
Further senior Republican leaders in the Indian American community believe that Jindal does not have sufficient traction within the community to make a big difference to McCain, politically or by way of bringing in big bucks.
