Poll: Obama/Biden Take Eight-Point Lead

Democratic Ticket Gets Boost After Convention, CBS News Poll Finds

(CBS)  Democratic nominee Barack Obama's lead over Republican John McCain has grown after the Democratic convention, which 71 percent of Americans say they watched. Obama and his running mate Joe Biden now lead McCain and Sarah Palin 48 percent to 40 percent, according to the latest CBS News poll.

This is the first CBS News poll to include the vice presidential candidates in the horserace question.

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Read The Complete Poll:
Post-Democratic Convention Poll

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The eight-point lead for the Democratic ticket is up from Obama’s three-point lead before the convention. But there are still a significant number of voters who have yet to firmly make up their minds.

Before the Democratic convention, McCain enjoyed a 12-point advantage with independent voters, but now Obama leads among this group 43 percent to 37 percent. Obama's lead among women has also grown to 14 points (50 percent to 36 percent), and the Democrat maintained the lead he had before the convention among voters who supported Senator Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries.

The poll shows an increase in the number of Obama voters who are enthusiastic about him. Sixty-seven percent of Obama voters say they enthusiastically support him, which is up from 48 percent who said so before the convention. About a quarter of McCain’s backers are enthusiastic about him--unchanged from before the Democratic convention.

Sixty-three percent of registered voters say Obama understands their needs and problems, while just 41 percent say that about McCain. And after the Democratic convention, 58 percent of voters say Obama is "tough enough," which is up from 48 percent in early August.

Though Obama has seen his lead grow, there are still areas where he has room to improve. The latest CBS News poll shows no change in the percentage of registered voters who say Obama has prepared himself well enough for the job-- a sentiment in which McCain has held a large advantage. But fewer voters now say Obama is not prepared for the job of President than before the convention.

Although 50 percent of voters now say that Obama has made it clear what he would do as president (up from 41 percent), 44 percent still say the Democratic nominee has not made it clear.

[jhndricks]

We launched an Obama/McCain t-shirt competition and are seeing the same trend. http://www.collarfree.com/ContestProfile.aspx?id=4

[jhndricks]

We launched an Obama/McCain t-shirt competition and are seeing the same trend. http://www.collarfree.com/ContestProfile.aspx?id=4

[roy214]

If God be for Obama who can be against Him that set I cant wait to see the last pools show a wider margin of 18 points lead for Obama /Biden next week that will please me big time I count on it so sould you they realy is going to make a difference dont you think Joe and Barack I mean Barack and Joe well you know Obama and Biden yes Biden and Obama and us Barack Obama and Joe Biden and the American peoples yehhhhhhh" I finally got it right as you have God Bless America and God Bless alls Americans and God Bless senator Obama Barack and senator Biden.

[bfjones666]

Well, we knew that there were going to be some folks who would never vote for the Dems because there was a black man on the ticket. I guess we''ll find out for real how many people will never vote for a woman. We almost found out during the Virginia primaries when 7% of the voters refused to vote black or female on the Democratic side, voting for Edwards and other (as long as other was a white man). I guess now we''ll see how this works nationally.

[dashortround]

Only 2 years ago, Palin was only the "Mayor" of tiny little Wasilla, Alaska (population 5,470).

If SHE can be VP, then any "Mayor" of any town of 5,000 or more can be the next GOP VP choice!

LOL...

[dashortround]

A mere 18 months in her very FIRST State-level (not even Federal-level) office is NOT enough experience for a VP.

Sorry.

Only two years ago Palin was just the Mayor of a tiny little village of only 5,000 people, in a very remote state.

She got her very first U.S. Passport just last summer -- prior to that she''s never even traveled outside the US!

Let me repeat that: before last year she had never even traveled outside the US!

To put her in as #2 to the oldest candidate in history, who''''s already fighting cancer, is reckless in the extreme.

[jon2012-2009]

Palin is a sideshow. The big issue in this election hasn''t changed: Whether Republican conservatism, which has given us the worst presidency in George Bush, should have another shot at running this country and lead us to further ruin.

[lucilioness]

EVERY AMERICAN, BLACK, WHITE, YELLOW, PURPLE, OR GREEN, WHO CAN AFFORD TO WHERE FOUR-HUNDRED DOLLAR SHOES, OWNS TWO TO SEVEN HOUSES, AND MAKES TWO TO THREE-HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR, SHOULD VOTE FOR MCSAME. REGULAR, WORKING-CLASS AMERICANS OF ANY COLOR HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDDREN FOR YEARS TO COME. WHAT COLOR IS FREEDOM!

[wakeup60]

All the way...........OBAMA/BIDEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can''t wait until the Debates !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come on November !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mcvet-1]

Have white Americans forgotten who they really are? Pretending not to be racists does not make you egalitarians, you know. Deep inside you are terrified at the mere thought of a black family in the White House, soiling two centuries of tradition.

When November comes, American whites, rich and poor, educated or not, will run to McCain arms in panic. Better start accepting that white trash Sarah Palin and warmonger McCain will lead you by your noses for the next 12 years.

Posted by Oskarum at 03:22 AM : Sep 03, 2008

Oh I don''t think so! At every turn in our history when it has become necessary to step up to change the history and course of this nation, American''s have stepped up and done just that. IF they choose to vote as you say then they deserve to continue to see their standard of living drop. It''s at the bottom of the G-7 now and will most certainly go by that if we get 4 more years of Fascist rule. No I differ with you... I believe America is up to this and will overcome the hate and bigotry!! SIEG HEIL McSAME

[mcvet-1]

He did introduce many bills, only a few were enacted.

Posted by concerns47 at 09:32 AM : Sep 03, 2008


You know these 6th grade drop outs are so embarrassing. I live in Illinois and the figures this poor uneducated bootlicker use''s is rediculous. Why? Because the way the Senate in the State of Illinois move''s bills to committee or to other places is for representatives to vote "Present" or "No Vote" on then. IF this loser had the intelligence to read and understand the system of OUR state he''d have known that. Aren''t all of you embarrassed by these Knuckle Dragging Fascist?? I sure am!! SIEG HEIL McSame

[mkbjon]

Have white Americans forgotten who they really are? Pretending not to be racists does not make you egalitarians, you know. Deep inside you are terrified at the mere thought of a black family in the White House, soiling two centuries of tradition.

When November comes, American whites, rich and poor, educated or not, will run to McCain arms in panic.

Posted by Oskarum

Obama is about as threatening as Cliff and Claire Huxtable. He is nearly on the opposite end of the spectrum in regards to what whites perceive as the "black experience." Yes, there are some whites that will vote based on fear or hatred, and think that Obama will bring the "ghetto" to the White House. There are also blacks that are voting for Obama strictly on the because of race, and think that things are going to be easier for them if he is President. Both rationales are silly. Except for his skin color and parentage, he actually has more in common with whites than blacks. Poor whites may vote for McCain, but the man can''''t even remember how many houses he has, and thinks that the middle class earns millions. Oh, SURE he can identify with them. Their agendas are not the same. A candidate''''s ability to lead is not diminished by the fact that some random group of nuts support him. I''m a black woman, and I am NOT voting for him based on his race. My issues and beliefs are what I care about, and it would make no sense for me to abandon them and defect to a party whose views are completely in opposition to my own.

[concerns47]

See how many votes Obama missed (301)

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400629&tab=votes

He did introduce many bills, only a few were enacted.

[mkbjon]

Have white Americans forgotten who they really are? Pretending not to be racists does not make you egalitarians, you know. Deep inside you are terrified at the mere thought of a black family in the White House, soiling two centuries of tradition.

When November comes, American whites, rich and poor, educated or not, will run to McCain arms in panic. Better start accepting that white trash Sarah Palin and warmonger McCain will lead you by your noses for the next 12 years.

Posted by Oskarum

Obama is about as threatening as Cliff and Claire Huxtable. He is nearly on the opposite end of the spectrum in regards to what whites perceive as the "black experience." Yes, there are some whites that will vote based on fear or hatred, and think that Obama will bring the "ghetto" to the White House. There are also blacks that are voting for Obama strictly on the because of race, and think that things are going to be easier for them if he is President. Both rationales are silly. Except for his skin color and parentage, he actually has more in common with whites than blacks. Poor whites may vote for McCain, but the man can''t even remember how many houses he has, and thinks that the middle class earns millions. Oh, SURE he can identify with them. Their agendas are not the same. A candidate''s ability to lead is not diminished by the fact that some random group of nuts support him.

[caddillackid]

Oskarum...lol, your comment tickle me, and I pitty ya! So your concerned about a black family taking the whitehouse so-called ruining 200+ years of tradition? Have whites forgotten who they really are? LOL, I think they''ve realized what they are not...a people who accepts failure. It was once said that 200 years ago, America had the black man help build this country, now 200 years later...why not hire a black man to fix it? Can he really do any worse than his white counterparts! Look at it this way...America came under warranty Oskarum, we''re just returning it to the manufacturer!! PS: On a lighter note... Even I''ve had a passport for ten years!

[cashew31]

It has come to my attention that McCain has stuck it to the GOP. Why, because he didn''t get his way. His so called Maverick image has never been a maverick in truth, ATTENTION,ATTENION, LOOK AT ME, and he has always been the center, which was his way of getting what he wanted. If he were a true Maverick why has he voted 90+% of the time in line with Pres Bush. When he was told he could not have Liebreman as VP he chose someone he didn''t veet.
She has a record/history as a member of a Separatist Group in Aliska that wanted Alaska to withdraw from the lower 48.
Of course our wealthy News Media Corpations will not tell you this because the GOP backs the Wealthier Class of citizens.
As Mayor of such a small town, she does not have the experience in management than any CEO of a small corparation with 8000 employee, such as any Warden in the State of CA.
As Governor of Alaska for 18 months, she has not even spent 1 term and has found herself under indictment for misuse of power (didn''t keep her nose out of trouble.)
Her family''s history makes you wonder where was wife and Mother while all this was going on. As a child that was pragnant out of wedlock I have the right to question this. My teenage years with devoted parents, devoted to each other and church, I felt very unloved and sought love to fill that void. The were not bad parents, just to busy for me.

[ggm1957]

Obama needs to win. We can''t afford another 4 years of going downhill. The USA needs to get its good name back and Obama will do that. I know we can''t expect change overnight - not after 8 years of Bush, but I believe it can happen with Obama. I am a 50 year old working middleclass white woman and this is the first time I will be voting FOR a president and not AGAINST. (I did vote for Obama in our March primary). I am looking forward to having Obama as president.

[sandy777-2009]

Obama/Biden will take it by a landslide and win.

That was a rotten dirty trick to put Palin in for VP. Hillary supporters don''t wanr a pro-lifer as VP, at least I don''t. I have more federal job & foriegn experience than Palin and I am a woman.

Maybe I should run for VP, at least I have years of federal service experience.

Can''t wait until the magic day of November 4th. And thank God Bushy will be out of our hair and lives on January 20th. What a celebration for all of us.

Yep, Obama/Bidem will win by a landslide. That''s my prediction.

[oskarum]

Have white Americans forgotten who they really are? Pretending not to be racists does not make you egalitarians, you know. Deep inside you are terrified at the mere thought of a black family in the White House, soiling two centuries of tradition.

When November comes, American whites, rich and poor, educated or not, will run to McCain arms in panic. Better start accepting that white trash Sarah Palin and warmonger McCain will lead you by your noses for the next 12 years.

[book54552134]

Though Obama is definitely not the perfect candidate for the Liberal base of the Democratic Party, it is time for Liberals to rally around this ticket.

Biden''s promise on Tuesday, that an Obama Justice Dept. will fully investigate & seek prosecution of all those in the Bush II Administration involved in any criminal activity is by itself, reason enough to back these guys.

Biden has given solid indication that under their governance, they will seek justice & that those guilty of crimes will have to pay.

Let''s hope that Obama will hold true to the sake of justice & will abide by Biden''s promise.

Many of the most serious crimes imaginable, have been committed by members of this Administration & Federal agents & the military who have done their bidding.

The public needs to know that for once, those in power may not always escape being made to account for their crimes. People need to know that the laws of the land isn''t just for the masses.