The Notebook: Poll

By: Randall Pinkston
Topics: Notebook

Video:
Notebook: Poll

The hill just got steeper for John McCain. A CBS News poll out tonight gives Barack Obama a 9 point lead. Obama led McCain by only 5 points just last week.

One big reason is how voters feel the candidates are handling the financial crisis. They give Obama a 44 percent approval rating compared to 35 for McCain, and it's coupled with a new Quinnipiac University poll that shows Obama out in front in three critical swing states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

Election Day is still more than a month off and these numbers will no doubt change, but Americans will still be hurting. Our 401ks have been shrinking and we're worried. The economy is clearly the number one issue, while national security and Iraq – McCain's strengths – are practically off the radar.

Each candidate has a month to convince voters he has the best financial fix. Whoever can do that will likely be on top November 4.

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by vmroad089 October 3, 2008 8:50 PM EDT: MikeG0523:

I agree with you. But these are the tactics of the weak. We are better than this. Her colors showed last night when she went on about being VP. What was she talking about? Katie didn''t need to be there to lead her, she follows her own stupidity. But we should try to lift ourselves above that.

You know, the one thing I hate about conservatives is their hypocrisy. That is not going to change with Sarah Palin or John McCain. We all know that. But lets not bring ourselves down to that level. I would rather ride on top.; Reply to this comment


by eileeng1234 October 3, 2008 8:37 PM EDT: I am appalled that Sarah Palin can even be considered a candidate for the vice presidency. I actually thought the duck hunting accident was a pre-Tina Fey joke. Country-first, indeed.; Reply to this comment


by mikeg0523 October 3, 2008 8:29 PM EDT: I find it amusing that anybody with a rational mind can actually accuse Katie Couric of a "hatchet job" on Sarah Palin. You must be joking! Asking a candidate to name a newspaper they read?? Or to identify something *** Cheney has done wrong?? These were softball questions that received incoherent answers. We are all in trouble if people don''t see Sarah Palin for the what she really is, a disaster waiting to happen.; Reply to this comment


by vmroad089 October 3, 2008 7:59 PM EDT: I am voting for Obama but I must say, I am disappointed in her line of questioning too. It was like a setup. I think we should all act our ages and give some slack to one another. We are all Americans who have different views. That doesn''t make US bad people. Katie, you would do CBS, and the rest of US, a favor if you apologized. It would make you a better person to be reasonable.; Reply to this comment


by rleberknight October 3, 2008 7:55 PM EDT: Ten years ago if I described a leader who...

Lied while pushing his way into an unjust war;
Broke his own country''s law to punish critics of his lying;
Tortured prisoners;
Ignored the concept of Habeas Corpus, and flaunted the Geneva convention;
Fired his own Justice Department officials for political gain;
Spied on his own people and publicly declared he needed no warrants to do so;
Ignored established science in favor of politically motivated opinions;
Freed the rich to play economic games until they trashed the economy;

...you would have thought I was describing a small third world dictator.

Tragically, our own country is somewhere between a laughing-stock and
a pariah in the world today, because of our current administration.

The November vote must send a crushing message, so that this will not happen again.; Reply to this comment


by pghpa780 October 3, 2008 4:01 PM EDT: I am disappointed in Katie Couric also. Being a woman you think should would have asked her some real questions also. Guess that''s why CBS hired her - it is a democratic machine.; Reply to this comment


by jfe80911 October 3, 2008 1:11 PM EDT: I''m disappointed in Katie Couric''s handling of the interviews or questions. It seems to me that she is purposely trying to trip up Sarah Palin. Why isn''t anyone asking Barack Obama what he has accomplished for us? You never heard of him until he decided to run for President. He will be our lead man for the country and everyone just puts it aside. At least with McCain we know what we are getting. We know that he will tell the truth whereas Barack is nothing more than a guy who can read his speeches well to the nation. I feel like I''m in church when he speaks. Why doesn''t America wake up! McCain is for change also! Don''t take a chance on Obama. Lets keep our country safe and allow McCain to "actually" change our Nation and not let Obama ask everyone for help on how to handle things. He has so little experience. I''m not the only one scared if he wins. Please America...wake up! He''s a rock star, nothing more. He has accomplished nothing.; Reply to this comment


by hotflashgame October 3, 2008 11:36 AM EDT: Forget how the VP''s did on foreign and domestic issues. Sarah Palin can''t pronounce nuclear, Iraq or Iran. I cannot take any more
"nuc-u-lar", period.; Reply to this comment


by hiveymc October 3, 2008 10:52 AM EDT: Sarah Palin: = Bush with high hair, lipstick & skirt. Eight years ago we also saw someone who made a point of being perky, affable & clueless except where carefully prepped.; Reply to this comment


by dboutlaw-2009 October 3, 2008 5:25 AM EDT: Sarah was great in the debate! Showed what a hatchet job Katie tried to do on her. Really, if a journalist wants to, he/she can make anyone look bad.

And about CBS polls - who the heck would believe them anyway? What credibility does CBS news have?; Reply to this comment