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Sept. 4, 2008

CBS Poll: McCain, Obama Tied

McCain Closes Eight-Point Gap From Poll Taken Last Weekend

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    Sarah Palin got a rousing welcome from GOP delegates at the RNC in St. Paul, Minn. She talked about her small town roots and made some not-so-subtle jabs at Barack Obama. Jeff Glor reports.

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    Heather Bruce, Gov. Sarah Palin's sister, talks to Maggie Rodriguez about their family's role of support for the VP candidate.

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(CBS)  The presidential race between Barack Obama and John McCain is now even at 42 percent, according to a new CBS News poll conducted Monday-Wednesday of this week. Twelve percent are undecided according to the poll, and one percent said they wouldn't vote.

This is in contrast to a poll conducted last weekend, where the Obama-Biden ticket led McCain-Palin by eight points, 48 percent to 40 percent.

McCain has also closed the enthusiasm gap some with Obama, but it still exists. Fifty-five percent of Obama's supporters are enthusiastic about their choice, and now so are 35% of McCain's. Last weekend, just 25 percent of McCain's supporters were enthusiastic about him, compared to 67 of Obama's supporters.
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This week's polling continues to show voters waiting to decide about Sarah Palin (see yesterday's poll on Palin). But in interviewing done yesterday, 83 percent of registered voters said that spouse and family of a candidate will not affect their votes.

Other factors within the race and overall opinions of the candidates, however, have remained similar from this weekend.

Thirty-eight percent say they have a favorable view of Obama, compared 34 percent unfavorable and 27 percent undecided. For McCain, it's 37 percent favorable, 36 percent unfavorable and 27 percent undecided.

McCain maintains his large advantage on the likelihood of being an effective commander-in-chief - 46 percent of voters say it is "very likely" McCain would be an effective commander-in-chief, compared to 24 percent who say that about Obama.

But McCain still has one big deficit to make up -- just 44 percent of voters say he understands their needs and problems, compared with 60 percent who say that about Obama.

In the poll, Obama continues to have a lead with women voters, 43 percent to 38 percent, while McCain has the edge with men, 46 percent to 41 percent. As has been standard in this campaign, voters under age 45 are backing Obama, while older voters are supporting McCain.

McCain wins the support of married voters and Obama has the backing of voters who are not married. It should be noted, though, that most married voters are older while those who are not married tend to be younger.

Independents in this poll are divided. In the poll conducted over the weekend, Obama had a six-point advantage with this group, but now the lead is three points, 39 percent to 36 percent.

The poll also shows that the majority of Clinton supporters continue to support Obama - 67 percent in this poll, up from 58 percent last weekend.

McCain has seen a similar uptick from white evangelicals since the weekend - 66 percent now, up from 57 percent.

Read The Complete Poll

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 835 adults nationwide, including 734 registered voters, interviewed by telephone September 1-3, 2008. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both standard land-lines and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points; for registered voters the sampling error could be plus or minus four percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

©MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Add a Comment See all 2000 Comments
by zorar-2009 September 4, 2008 4:02 PM PDT
So goes Wallstreet..So goes the nation with a McSame Pailin administration...DOWN...DOWN...DOWN...
Reply to this comment
by pmsnbc1 September 4, 2008 4:02 PM PDT
NOBAMA IS GOING DOWN HARD!

Attagirl Sarah, take on the LIB elites and show em how to reform Washington.
Reply to this comment
by cameo35 September 4, 2008 4:06 PM PDT
.........FLASH!!!........JUST IN........THE "ENQUIRE"....IS GOING TO RELEASE AN ARTICLE AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THAT PALIN CHEATED ON HER HUSBAND NOT LONG AGO.................FLASH.....REPEAT...........!!
Reply to this comment
by reel-crazy September 4, 2008 4:07 PM PDT

I don''t believe in polls.

Any of you normal people ever been asked to do a poll? What about you abnormal folks?

Reply to this comment
by dvsden September 4, 2008 4:07 PM PDT
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/
Obama up by 7 daily tracking in Gallup and 5 in daily tracking on Rasmussen
Other notable polls not being discussed by MSM
Obama up by 12 in MN
Obama up by 15 in IA (Bush state)
Obama up by 3 in freakin'' ND (Bush State)

McDole still is not up in ANY Kerry state from ''04. Palin the religo-nut is not going to help in NH, PA, or MI. She does energize the 30% Crowd that supports Bush though.
Reply to this comment
by william_lerd September 4, 2008 4:08 PM PDT
Which candidate will eliminate the $2.50 a gallon tax George W Bush put on gasoline?
Reply to this comment
by vastr-wcon September 4, 2008 4:08 PM PDT
Clearly the great news is that the loony-left liberal media''s ALL-HUSSEIN, ALL-THE-TIME propaganda and its rabid-dog-like sexist attacks on Palin are starting to backfire.

The endless ALL-HUSSEIN, ALL-THE-TIME propaganda continues. This is, of course, a feeble attempt to create the impression that it is a one-person contest. Obviously, that is the only way a Kerry-like shallow, arrogant, platitude-spouting, inexperienced, elitist, narcissistic, flip-flopping gas-bag, who is so mentally deficient from extensive drug use he even has to plagiarize his hollow platitudes, could win an honest election.

Unfortunately, the loony-left liberal media will continue to treat hussein as if he has already been elected/appointed president -- showing that they have now fully and completely abandoned all journalistic ethics and will do anything to ensure victory for TheOne.

Sorry, hussein sycophants of the liberal media - but everybody can see right through this sham. Just as the simple-minded got bored with the over-exposure of Hilton and Spears, so too will they soon tire of the hussein hype.

Reply to this comment
by thevicar2 September 4, 2008 4:09 PM PDT
Fuzzy Zoeller just called...they are taking fried chicken and watermelon OFF of the Whitehouse menu!!!
Reply to this comment
by william_lerd September 4, 2008 4:10 PM PDT
Which candidate will eliminate the $2.50 a gallon tax George W Bush put on gasoline?
Reply to this comment
by mr2258 September 4, 2008 4:10 PM PDT
The Obama ship is sinking.JUMP before it is too late.Get aboard the USS McCain and save your life.
Reply to this comment
by jmurrieta1 September 4, 2008 4:10 PM PDT
Don''t let Palin distract from the real candidate--you know, the white haired wrinkly white guy with the squeaky voice.

Palin is a distraction, designed to take attention for the 25 years of failed McCain policies, and his slavish devotion to kissing the rectal rings of George Bush and the right wing Proddie religious fanatics.

McCain lost big with Minnesotans, and likely with Mormons, when he spat in the faces of Pawlenty and Romney, no matter how brave a face Romney may have put on it.

Palin is a feather weight. Don''t let her distract from the real problem--John McCain.
Reply to this comment
by be_real September 4, 2008 4:11 PM PDT
.........FLASH!!!........JUST IN........THE "ENQUIRE"....IS GOING TO RELEASE AN ARTICLE AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THAT PALIN CHEATED ON HER HUSBAND NOT LONG AGO.................FLASH.....REPEAT....
.......!!

Posted by CAMEO35 at 04:06 PM : Sep 04, 2008



Are you for REAL? ENQUIRE-has no credibility
Reply to this comment
by jmurrieta1 September 4, 2008 4:11 PM PDT
"Fuzzy Zoeller just called...they are taking fried chicken and watermelon OFF of the Whitehouse menu!!!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by TheVicar2


Now what could you possibly be referring to with your infantile slurs?
Reply to this comment
by william_lerd September 4, 2008 4:12 PM PDT
Which candidate will eliminate the $2.50 a gallon tax George W Bush put on gasoline?
Reply to this comment
by newyorker26 September 4, 2008 4:12 PM PDT
Wall Street isn''t controlled by the White House.It''s wall street that controls the economy.We wouldn''t have a housing mess if it wasn''t for greed.We lost jobs in this country because people wanted cheaper goods and companies wanted bigger profits. We''ve lost our made in America pride.
Reply to this comment
by cameo35 September 4, 2008 4:13 PM PDT
..........INQUIRE BROKE THE JAMES EDWARD STORY!!.............
Reply to this comment
by thevicar2 September 4, 2008 4:13 PM PDT
Which candidate will eliminate the $2.50 a gallon tax George W Bush put on gasoline? -------------------------------------------- Posted by william_lerd


I guess its which ever candidate is running in a Country that has a $2.50 a gallon federal tax! Last time I checked, its 24 cents in AMERICA.

Either you are living in Wonderland, or you made that up about the tax, huh?
Reply to this comment
by mr2258 September 4, 2008 4:13 PM PDT
Obamas 8 points is gone...
Reply to this comment
by newyorker26 September 4, 2008 4:14 PM PDT
Wall Street isn''t controlled by the White House.It''s wall street that controls the economy.We wouldn''t have a housing mess if it wasn''t for greed.We lost jobs in this country because people wanted cheaper goods and companies wanted bigger profits. We''ve lost our made in America pride.
Reply to this comment
by jumkey September 4, 2008 4:14 PM PDT
Hmmm....you''d have thought the folks at CBS News had heard of the electoral college - you know, the thing we actually use to elect presidents?

Oh, but I guess they''re like little children, seeking Daddies approval after getting swatted for criticizing Palin.

Sad.
Reply to this comment
by william_lerd September 4, 2008 4:14 PM PDT
Are you for REAL? ENQUIRE-has no credibility


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Be_Real
=====================
They are a step above FOXNews though.
Reply to this comment
by notfooled September 4, 2008 4:15 PM PDT
MMM, lets see. At last count roughly 40% of all Americans understand and believe that the government was responsible for the 911 twin-towers demolition that facilitated everything subsequent, such as 2 useless wars, the erosion of our civil liberties in the name of protecting us, and the largest transfer of wealth the world has ever known.

It would be hard to believe there''d be 42% left who would support more of the McSame.
Reply to this comment
by cameo35 September 4, 2008 4:15 PM PDT
..............THE REPUBLICAN ARE TRYING TO SUE THEM !!.........THEY DON''T WANT THIS ARTICLE OUT!!!...
Reply to this comment
by william_lerd September 4, 2008 4:16 PM PDT
Either you are living in Wonderland, or you made that up about the tax, huh?



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by TheVicar2
==========================
No its the Bush inflation tax. Everything costs more because of the huge Bush deficits so basically its a tax.
Reply to this comment
by pmsnbc1 September 4, 2008 4:16 PM PDT
NOBAMA IS GOING DOWN HARD!

Attagirl Sarah, take on the LIB elites and show em how to reform Washington.
Reply to this comment
by mandalay-bay September 4, 2008 4:16 PM PDT
can you image sarah palin in charge of the US and its armed forces??


just think about that for a second......




bwahahahahahahaha!!
Reply to this comment
by mr2258 September 4, 2008 4:17 PM PDT
Enquire just trying to make eay money.Nothing new.
Reply to this comment
by thevicar2 September 4, 2008 4:17 PM PDT
Weve lost our made in America pride ------------------------------------------- Posted by newyorker26



NOT SO MUCH YET!!!
We are still not ready to elect a Kenyan-born Hawaiian President!
Reply to this comment
by william_lerd September 4, 2008 4:17 PM PDT
Enquire just trying to make eay money.Nothing new.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by mr2258
==============
Whats eay money?
Reply to this comment
by cameo35 September 4, 2008 4:17 PM PDT
..........MAYBE WE SHOULD CALL HER DEEPTHROAT SARAH PALIN.............
Reply to this comment
by frootloophhh September 4, 2008 4:18 PM PDT
Other Polls:
McCain-Obama
RCP Average 08/29 - 09/03 -- 48.8-42.8 Obama +6.0
Gallup Tracking 09/01 - 09/03 42-49 Obama 7
Rasmussen Tracking 09/01 - 09/03 45-50 Obama 5
Hotline/FD 08/29 - 08/31 39-48 Obama 9
CNN 08/29 - 08/31 927 RV 48-49 Obama 1
CBS News 08/29 - 08/31 781 40-48 Obama 8
Reply to this comment
by william_lerd September 4, 2008 4:19 PM PDT
NOT SO MUCH YET!!!
We are still not ready to elect a Kenyan-born Hawaiian President!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by TheVicar2
===========================
Yes alas some people just love have to hit rock bottom before they cange dont they. Sort of like drunks.
Reply to this comment
by xmanborg September 4, 2008 4:19 PM PDT
McLame

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Reply to this comment
by pmsnbc1 September 4, 2008 4:20 PM PDT
Funny how the LIBS continue to bash the elderly and women, who the polls show are deserting Nobama. Since McCain is way ahead among men, I guess that leaves ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, blacks.
Reply to this comment
by frootloophhh September 4, 2008 4:20 PM PDT
We are still not ready to elect a Kenyan-born Hawaiian President!
Posted by TheVicar2
--------------------
We? Who-s WE? Speak for yourself :-)
Reply to this comment
by thevicar2 September 4, 2008 4:20 PM PDT
No its the Bush inflation tax. Everything costs more because of the huge Bush deficits so basically its a tax ------------------------------------------------------ Posted by william_lerd


Ohhhh! I always confuse that one with the Clintonian NAFTA tax...
Reply to this comment
by dremn1 September 4, 2008 4:21 PM PDT
I bet we hear a statment much like the following in the near future from Obama.

"Joe Biden has resigned as a canidate for VP because of personal reasons so I have chosen Hillary Clinton to replace him as the VP canidate"

GO SARAH!!!!!!
Reply to this comment
by pmsnbc1 September 4, 2008 4:21 PM PDT
Posted by FrootLoopHHH at 04:18 PM : Sep 04, 2008


LOL...LOL again. Maybe you can find a poll more recent than February!
Try the CBS poll, It''s EVEN you moron.
Reply to this comment
by cameo35 September 4, 2008 4:21 PM PDT
...............MCCAIN AND SARAH PALIN....= BEAUTY AND THE BEAST........
Reply to this comment
by xmanborg September 4, 2008 4:21 PM PDT
McLame and Palin the loosing ticket this fall.
Reply to this comment
by thevicar2 September 4, 2008 4:22 PM PDT
Whats eay money? ------------------------------------------------------ Posted by william_lerd



When Liber-Brats open the envelope each month that comes from the Government, they all shout, "Eay! Money!!!"
Reply to this comment
by sistatee-2009 September 4, 2008 4:22 PM PDT
Since this is a CBS poll, the true figures probably show McCain/Palin ahead by 20 points.
Reply to this comment
by rave_on3 September 4, 2008 4:23 PM PDT
...............MCCAIN AND SARAH PALIN....= BEAUTY AND THE BEAST........


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by CAMEO35 at 04:21 PM : Sep 04, 2008


If they win, my bumper sticker will read "My VP is HOT!
Reply to this comment
by citizenusa-2009 September 4, 2008 4:23 PM PDT
Typical spin. I seriously doubt (unless the majority of Americans are brain dead) that a stinging, insulting, belittling speech from a mom who has 18 months of experience as a rural politician is going to "close the gap" between McSame and Obama. Please!
Reply to this comment
by mandalay-bay September 4, 2008 4:23 PM PDT
The current GOP zombie talking point is that Palin has "executive experience".

Those genuises have defined "executive experience" as: everything outside of State Senate and U.S. Senate (where Obama served of course).

So, according to the Republicans, MCCAIN HAS NO EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE. HE''''S BEEN A CONGRESSMAN AND SENATOR HIS WHOLE POLITICAL CAREER.

Posted by notelatu at 04:19 PM : Sep 04, 2008


Oh, don''t forget she has "foreign policy" experience because Alaska is near Russia....

McSame has actually claimed this!!!!!

bwahahahahahaha!!!!

Reply to this comment
by fstop100 September 4, 2008 4:24 PM PDT
barry obama is losing
Reply to this comment
by mr2258 September 4, 2008 4:25 PM PDT
Women I want you to keep a good watch on the way Sarah Palin is treated.You still have a ways to go yet.Get behind Sarah if she loses it will be a defeat for the future of women.......
Reply to this comment
by redlipsahead September 4, 2008 4:25 PM PDT
MCCAIN IS NOW WINNING IN THE POLLS.

THE POLLS WERE INCORRECT IT WAS NOT A TIE.

DWAYNE AND CLYDE JUST SAID THAY ARE SWITCHING FROM OBAMA TO MCCAIN.

THATS 2 MORE VOTE FOR MCCAIN AND PUTS MCCAIN AHEAD.
Reply to this comment
by barsellers September 4, 2008 4:25 PM PDT
Has anyone noticed that McCain''s cancer has returned? Look at his right cheek.
Reply to this comment
by mcvet-1 September 4, 2008 4:25 PM PDT
Well it''s your Big Night all you Fascist. McSame has to step up to that Mike and deliver tonight. IF he fails, if he faulters the game is over! Can he do it with that HUGH Slide by Wallstreet AND those Unemployment numbers?? LOL Oh but then the tired old man who''s been playing catch up it seems forever must sprint to the finish line with the MUCH more gifted Obama!! ROFLMAO This is going to be FUN! Watching him try to balance telling the American People that he IS NOT BUSH while trying to please a Radical Right who LOVE the Little Nazi!! ROFLMAO GOOD LUCK all you fascist... by the way, YOU, as aways, have already lost!! ROFLMAO SIEG HEIL McBUSH
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