McCain Camp Suggests Poll Showing Big Obama Lead An "Outlier"
McCain-Palin 2008 lead pollster Bill McInturff led a conference call this morning to respond to the new Washington Post-ABC News national poll showing Barack Obama leading John McCain 52 percent to 43 percent among likely voters.
McInturff suggested that the poll is an "outlier," arguing that the race is "functionally tied."
"It's a margin of error race nationally, and it's a margin of error race in most of the most competitive states," he said. An examination of the data in key states – Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin – showed a tight race and little movement in September, McInturff said.
Particularly for this point in the campaign, he said, the race is "remarkably stable."
McInturff suggested that Obama's lead in the poll could be explained in part by its 16 point party affiliation spread in favor of Democrats, which, he said, was not "at all indicative of what's happening in the campaign." The real party identification spread, he said, was between 4 and 8 points.
"The most important thing in this race is trying to figure out what is party identification," he said, arguing that the Washington Post-ABC News pollsters had come to "way different" conclusions than other pollsters.
"What I know is it's not likely to be minus 16," he said. He also noted that McCain's support has been better than party affiliation numbers.
© 2008 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved. McInturff suggested that the poll is an "outlier," arguing that the race is "functionally tied."
"It's a margin of error race nationally, and it's a margin of error race in most of the most competitive states," he said. An examination of the data in key states – Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin – showed a tight race and little movement in September, McInturff said.
Particularly for this point in the campaign, he said, the race is "remarkably stable."
McInturff suggested that Obama's lead in the poll could be explained in part by its 16 point party affiliation spread in favor of Democrats, which, he said, was not "at all indicative of what's happening in the campaign." The real party identification spread, he said, was between 4 and 8 points.
"The most important thing in this race is trying to figure out what is party identification," he said, arguing that the Washington Post-ABC News pollsters had come to "way different" conclusions than other pollsters.
"What I know is it's not likely to be minus 16," he said. He also noted that McCain's support has been better than party affiliation numbers.
Popular in Politics
- For GOP, scandals could be an electoral plus - or minus 133 Comments
- Officials on Benghazi: "We made mistakes, but without malice" 297 Comments
- Where is the Benghazi cover-up Republicans promised? 381 Comments
- FBI seeks anonymous source behind Menendez allegations
- Ousted IRS chief: "I did not mislead" the American people 256 Comments
- Why Obama should worry that current scandals might impact 2016 226 Comments
- Obama: I didn't know about IRS report 613 Comments
- Republicans use IRS scandal to tar Obamacare
What a freaking liar and COWARD.
First the GOP hides Palin now he wants to cancel the debate.
So, if he SUSPENDED his campaign, and backs out of THE debate-HE''S DONE! Obama has won UNANIMOUSLY!
The idea that a man with no record of accomplishment, whose naivette brought him in close ties to the likes of the notorious Rev. Wright, the crooked Rezko, and some of the most radical personalities, would win the presidency, frightens me more than any kind of financial meltdown.
As one old man who was interviwed on TV put it: A neophyte is running for president, and the experienced one is running for VP. They got it reversed. America is screwed.
McCain is a feeble fraud and outrageous liar while Palin is simply mentally challenged with no intellect, so I really can''t understand how it''s hard to envision anyone with a ''rational brain'' supporting this ticket.
After watching McCain try to establish himself as an economic guru by saying he is a ''REGULATOR'' after 26 years spent supporting more and more "DEREGULATION", he is failing miserably to even convince members of his own party that he has changed his philosophy. It has become quite clear that he has NO CLUE about economics, so instead of an admission, he resorts to more distractions, blatant lying, and more refusals to speak with the media! Now he has major qualms with the press for deciding that access to Palin off limits [apparently her lack of knowledge on issues is a real disaster].
The other day George Will [conservative Republican] NY Times, wrote an article stating that McCain does NOT have the temperment nor maturity to be POTUS, and McCain became livid! As a result, he said the NY Times has no journalist value and was no better than a tabloid rag which is wholly untrue!
I can only say, George Will was ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! And the polls showing Obama''s lead is NOT AN OUTLIER; it''s McCain''s envy showing!