November 1, 2008

Poll: Early Voters Strongly Prefer Obama

CBS News Survey Shows Democratic Ticket With 19 Point Edge Among Early Voters, 13 Point Lead Among Likely Voters Overall

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(CBS)  With just three days left until Election Day, a new CBS News poll finds that the Democratic presidential ticket of Barack Obama and Joe Biden leads its Republican counterpart by 13 points among likely voters, 54 percent to 41 percent. That margin reflects an increase of two points in the Obama-Biden ticket's lead from a CBS News/New York Times poll released Thursday.

About one in five voters say they have already cast their vote, either in person or through the mail, and these early voters prefer the Democratic ticket by an even greater margin. Obama leads among early voters 57 percent to 38 percent, a nineteen point advantage.

The economy is by far the issue of top concern to voters, and they continue to view Obama more favorably on the issue than they do his Republican rival, John McCain. Fifty-one percent of registered voters say Obama would make the economy better, while just 29 percent say McCain would.

On the question of who will raise taxes, the candidates are roughly even: Forty-seven percent say Obama would raise their taxes and 48 percent say McCain would do so.

Read The Complete Poll
Early voters are slightly more concerned than voters who plan to cast their votes on Election Day that their vote won't be counted accurately. Forty-two percent of early voters are at least somewhat concerned about their vote not being counted, while 34 percent of voters overall say as much.

Nearly half of the early voters are Democrats, while 30 percent are Republican and 21 percent independent. They are slightly more likely to be African American or female than likely voters overall, but they do not differ much in other respects, including ideology, age, income, and level of education.

Early voters who also voted four years ago backed Democratic nominee John Kerry over President George W. Bush 45 percent to 40 percent in the 2004 presidential race.


This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1120 adults nationwide, including 989 registered voters, interviewed by telephone October 28-31, 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 and the sample of registered voters could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

© MMVIII, CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Add a Comment See all 763 Comments
by irmcvet97 November 1, 2008 6:37 PM PDT
This nation has never seen anything like want is headed the way of the Republican''s...
Reply to this comment
by wilder5121 November 1, 2008 6:38 PM PDT
That''s nothing. Wait till the TSUNAMI of patriotic Americans voting for Obama on Tuesday. America''s eight-year nightmare is coming to an end...and the entire world stands up and cheers.
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 6:40 PM PDT
but, of course, these early polling numbers can''t be right because the right-wing nuts say so
Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 November 1, 2008 6:41 PM PDT
"...REJECT BARACK OBAMA!" Posted by CBSisPravda

Nope.
Reply to this comment
by noloyalisti November 1, 2008 6:43 PM PDT
Maybe a lot of frightened Republicons will finally get their heads out of their butts and put Country First. Has McSame and McQuaylin endorsed Obama yet? It would save a lot of time and trouble and a lot of Republicons will save themselves from jail time for cheating and election fraud.
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 6:43 PM PDT
Lewis Carroll, nice! McPalinwock- brilliant...Too bad the election''s only 3 days away- there could have been a future for "McPalinwock" t-shirts
Reply to this comment
by mrmazerati November 1, 2008 6:45 PM PDT
Posted by CBSisPravda

Sorry, we already voted for Obama over here. Better luck in 012.
Reply to this comment
by wilder5121 November 1, 2008 6:45 PM PDT
myhog6 must have missed the endorsement that made front-page news on Oct. 22nd:

"Al-Qaeda will have to support McCain in the coming election," said a commentary posted Monday on the extremist Web site al-Hesbah, which is closely linked to the terrorist group. It said the Arizona Republican would continue the "failing march of his predecessor," President Bush.

Looks like myhog6 is still supporting Al-Qaeda''s favorite candidate.
Reply to this comment
by bjcone8559 November 1, 2008 6:46 PM PDT
Voters in Orange county Florida stood in line five hours today.

The GOP is finished!!!
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 6:47 PM PDT
CBSisPravda: What do we get from your side? Hate-mongering? Race baiting? "Kill him, racist, terrorist, no Hussein, etc?" We haven''t even mentioned your intellectually-deficient Veep choice yet...She''s had a very busy few months, what with all the investigations and all
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 6:47 PM PDT
CBSisPravda: What do we get from your side? Hate-mongering? Race baiting? "Kill him, racist, terrorist, no Hussein, etc?" We haven''t even mentioned your intellectually-deficient Veep choice yet...She''s had a very busy few months, what with all the investigations and all
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 6:56 PM PDT
so the Republicans are standing arm-in-arm with al-Qaeda in support of their candidate- how sweet. can''t get a better endorsement than that. oh wait- Cheney endorsed McCain today........never mind
Reply to this comment
by noloyalisti November 1, 2008 6:58 PM PDT
Hopefully this will be the same throughout the election for Obama and hope. Hopefully, this will also affect the Congressional races to go Democratic. We need a landslide to stop the Republicon stealing and cheating.

We need a President with a brain and a vision for the future. We have at least 30 years of right wing disaster to roll back. And then we have to make sure they NEVER come back into power.
Reply to this comment
by heartlandjim November 1, 2008 7:00 PM PDT
This is great news. Keep voting Obama supporteres and let''s win this thing!!!
Reply to this comment
by targaray-2009 November 1, 2008 7:01 PM PDT
- WHERE IS PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH???
----- IS HE STILL A REPUBLICAN? -----
- HAS HE BEEN INVITED TO ANY OF McSAME & FALIN''S RALLIES???
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 7:02 PM PDT
We want CHAGNE
Posted by ShannonJ63 at 07:01 PM : Nov 01, 2008
----------
That about sums it up
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 7:03 PM PDT
I should be nice to Gov. Palin- at least we know that she has President Sarkozy on her side
Reply to this comment
by hennighg November 1, 2008 7:03 PM PDT
Wow. This is good news. According to the conservatives, the Congress has broken America, not the neo-cons. Well, after 6 years of total republican rule, just 2 democratic Senators have unraveled the neo-nazi-cons'' plan. Democrats are POWERFUL, man! With Obama in, maybe our 8-year long national nightmare might be finally over.
Reply to this comment
by karronna November 1, 2008 7:06 PM PDT
Boy McCain supporters seem absolutely desperate today...their posts are longer and longer....higher and higher and less and less coherent.

Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 7:07 PM PDT
RCP National Average 50.2 43.6 Obama +6.6
Favorable Ratings 19.6 8.0 Obama 11.6
Intrade Market Odds 83.9 16.3 -
Electoral College Obama McCain Spread
RCP Electoral Count 311 132 Obama 179

---From realclearpolitics.com
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 7:09 PM PDT
Lier, typical Obama, liberal democratic way of doing thing, write half of the sentance
Posted by ShannonJ63 at 07:07 PM : Nov 01, 2008
------
wow, was that English?

Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 7:11 PM PDT
sorry shannon, I don''t speak Hannityese...at least cut and paste stuff that has been spell-checked!
Reply to this comment
by wilder5121 November 1, 2008 7:11 PM PDT
*** CHENEY ENDORSES JOHN W McCAIN TODAY.

That''s the final nail in McCain/Palin''s coffin.
Reply to this comment
by wilder5121 November 1, 2008 7:14 PM PDT
ShannonJ63...maybe you should graduate third-grade and learn how to spell before using your Daddy''s computer.

Now go back into your room and play with your GameBoy.
Reply to this comment
by wilder5121 November 1, 2008 7:17 PM PDT
*** CHENEY ENDORSES JOHN W McCAIN TODAY ***

That''s the final nail in McCain/Palin''s coffin.
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 7:18 PM PDT
poor shannon...your intelligence is really on display...keep going- give us another gem out of the "English For Dummies" textbook
Reply to this comment
by fulghum2 November 1, 2008 7:19 PM PDT
Early voters prefer Obmam? Must have been the dumb ones, that voted first.
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 7:20 PM PDT
hey shannon- Palin says "wow." Where do you think she''s from?
Reply to this comment
by targaray-2009 November 1, 2008 7:21 PM PDT
- WHAT IS a GOP?

- Is George W. Bush still a Republican?
- Are John McSame and Sarah Failin running away from their Bush Republican Heritage?
- Is this some type of "mavericky behavior" or Are they afraid to be seen in public with the President???
Reply to this comment
by billpl-2009 November 1, 2008 7:22 PM PDT
GOP....put a fork in them

McCain was the last hope
time to start over
time to tell the Bible Nazi''s...bye,bye
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 7:22 PM PDT
shannon- maybe you need to have your keyboard checked....something is just not right with your posts...by the way- WOW!!!!!!!!
Reply to this comment
by noloyalisti November 1, 2008 7:22 PM PDT
So what does McCain promise for the good of America? Just one thing that he will do to help Joe Six Pack. More of the same disaster is what his junk sounds like. Someone step up and give us one good thing that McSame offers. Please?
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 7:23 PM PDT
to the dems on this page- thank God there are people here who can spell and form complete sentences. I felt like I was in the lock-down unit of a nursing home or something
Reply to this comment
by noloyalisti November 1, 2008 7:25 PM PDT
Instead of calling Obama names, why don''t you say what is good about McSame? What will he offer except more of the McSame as McBush. Meanwhile Obama offers hope for the future, jobs, better security, real support for the troops. Tax cuts and help for the environment through alternative energy development.
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 7:26 PM PDT
shannon- are you sneezing or coughing as you try to type?
Reply to this comment
by david1737 November 1, 2008 7:27 PM PDT
Clearly the vast majority of us want change and we know that Obama is the only one who will deliver.

Vote with the vast majority of Americans, vote Obama Nov.4th!
Reply to this comment
by fulghum2 November 1, 2008 7:28 PM PDT
Obama=Empty head, empty promises and will empty your wallet.
Reply to this comment
by lila31 November 1, 2008 7:28 PM PDT
I LOVE IT...OBAMA/BIDEN ALL THE WAY....

MCCAIN NEEDS TO GO HOME AND BAKE COOKIES WITH HIS WIFE AND PALIN TO A MENTAL INSTITUTION...HEEHEHEHEHEH
HAHAHAHHAHIIIIIIIIIIIII
Reply to this comment
by noloyalisti November 1, 2008 7:29 PM PDT
Instead of calling Obama names, why don''t you say what is good about McSame? What will he offer except more of the McSame as McBush. Meanwhile Obama offers hope for the future, jobs, better security, real support for the troops. Tax cuts and help for the environment through alternative energy development.
Reply to this comment
by fulghum2 November 1, 2008 7:29 PM PDT
david, Hitler promised "change" too! Think "Dictatorship".
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 7:30 PM PDT
noloyalisti- there''s no point...try to make a valid point and you get an illiterate response with brilliance such as: WEALTHFARE, MIDDLE CALL, aloud (allowed), allot, hole (whole), CHAGNE, WELATH, Posted by ShannonJ63 at 07:25 PM
Reply to this comment
by david1737 November 1, 2008 7:30 PM PDT
The people who work for a living are voting for Obama.

Fact 89% of Americans want Change and Obama is the only one who will deliver.

Fact: McCain voted for 4 out of 5 Bush budgets.

Now our country is in debt to the tune of $10 trillion.

Enough is enough!

Vote for the Middle Class, Vote Obama!
Reply to this comment
by lila31 November 1, 2008 7:31 PM PDT
YOU REPUBLICANS ARE BRAINLESS...YOU DESERVED THE 8 YEARS OF BUSH FOR BEING SO IGNORANT....AND YOU WANT ANOTHER 4????? YOU ARE CRAZY, THIS TIME WE WON''T ALLOW....INDEPENDENT VOTER...FOR OBAMA/BIDEN 08
Reply to this comment
by lila31 November 1, 2008 7:32 PM PDT
PLEASE BRAINLESS REPUBLICANS...WAKE UP AN SMELL THE COFFEE..... MACCAIN IS A WAR LOVER...AND PALIN A MENTAL CASE.........

OBAMA/BIDEN 2008
Reply to this comment
by gthc1 November 1, 2008 7:35 PM PDT
How do you spell landslide?

C-H-E-N-E-Y E-N-D-O-R-S-E-M-E-N-T
Reply to this comment
by lila31 November 1, 2008 7:36 PM PDT
MCCAIN IS MCSAME AND PALIN A MENTAL CASE...HEHEHEHEH

OBAMA/BIDEN 2008
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 7:36 PM PDT
shannon the clerk, that was SO moving...here are some genuine Palin quotes to remind everyone how wonderful she is:
1. "As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where%u2013 where do they go? It''s Alaska. It''s just right over the border."
2. "We believe that the best of America is not all in Washington, D.C. ... We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation."
3. "Well, let''s see. There''s -- of course -- in the great history of America rulings there have been rulings."
4. "All of ''em, any of ''em that have been in front of me over all these years." (my favorite, admitting that she still reads Highlights For Kids)
Reply to this comment
by humanofearth November 1, 2008 7:37 PM PDT
I AM A ROBOT FAN OF SARAH PALIN...WHO CARES OF IF SHE IS CORRUPT AS A GOVERNOR, WHO CARES IF SHE CONDONES HER PREGNANT TEENAGERS BOYFRIEND TO DROP OUTOF THE SCHOOL, WHO CARES IF SHE''S NOT SMARTER THAN A FIFTH GRADER. I LIKEHER.. IT''S BETTER THAN THAT OBAMA OSAMA GUY, I MEAN WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS, TRYING TO HELP OUT HIS OWN COUNTRYMEN IN A TIME OF RECESSION? DUH, WHAT KIND OF PRESIDENT DOES THAT????????? GO SARAH PALIN
GO USA
Reply to this comment
by forever1973 November 1, 2008 7:38 PM PDT
Oh, a SURVEY?

I rememeber a certain SURVEY that predicted that Gore would win Ohio.

That survey was wrong wrong wrong.
Reply to this comment
by bonoschild November 1, 2008 7:39 PM PDT
Joining Hannity''s Right-Wing Freedom Concerts: Samuel the Tax Evading Contractor, featuring Shannon the Ranting Clerk who TYPES LIKE THEIS
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