New Poll Shows McCain Up; Palin To Give First Interview

A new USA Today/Gallup poll indicates that John McCain received a bump coming out of his nominating convention, perhaps a significant one. As the polls roll in following a two-week period in which both presidential candidates chose their running mates and held their conventions, just about every poll comes with a caveat. It might be some time yet before the impact of it all settles in.

The Gallup poll shows McCain ahead 50 percent to 36 percent among registered voters but that lead increases to ten points among those identified as likely voters, 54 percent to 44 percent. The poll found a large increase in enthusiasm for John McCain within the GOP in the wake of the convention with 60 percent of them saying they are now more excited than usual about voting in November.

Meanwhile, McCain's running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, will give her first major interview later this week. Appearing on Fox News Sunday yesterday, McCain campaign manager Rick Davis continued to complain about Palin's treatment by the national media in the days since she was tapped for the ticket. "Why would we want to throw Sarah Palin into a cycle of piranhas called the news media that have nothing better to ask questions about than her personal life and her children," Davis asked. Hours later though, the campaign announced that Palin would sit down for an interview with ABC News this week.