Americans Want a "Center-Left" Country

A new poll just released by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner shows that, contrary to the most recent righty radio talking point, Americans want a "center-LEFT" country:

Key Findings

Obama’s honeymoon. Despite the attacks during the campaign, almost 60 percent came to view the President-elect favorably and believe he has what it takes to be president. And voters want both parties to work with the new president and his agenda to get the change done.

The mandate. Voters are looking above all for a new middle class economics that cuts taxes for the middle class and asks the richest and corporations to pay their share, a focus on a jobs-led recovery that restores America’s long-term strength, major action to achieve energy independence and affordable health care for all, and a responsible end to the Iraq war.

A new coalition. Obama’s election also created a new coalition of groups that not only looks more politically durable, but that re-enforces the image of the Democrats as more future-oriented, open and growing. Obama won the support of nearly two-thirds of African Americans, Latinos and Asians while also making some gains with white voters. He also won nearly two-thirds of unmarried women and young voters. He took 60 percent of post-graduates and remarkably, 55 percent in the suburbs. Along with winning back many Catholic voters and union households, and running respectably in rural areas, Obama was able to put together an impressive, cross-country victory.

A center-left nation. On virtually every dimension of the liberal-conservatism debate, voters have moved to a new place. They show a new openness for the country to use government for a range of public purposes; support for multilateralism over a go-it-alone, military-centered policy is at historic highs; 54 percent saying homosexuality should be accepted, not discouraged. Yet, voters remain cautious about government spending and taxes after eight years of bloated spending, deficits, corruption, incompetence and special-interest rule.

Obama Leads by Over 100 Electoral Votes

Mark Nickolas points out an important aspect of all the numbers being thrown around during this election cycle - the electoral college. While everyone else is discussing polling numbers, asking why Obama doesn't have a wider lead (or a lead at all, according to some), and analyzing every little fluctuation, he offers the bigger picture:

With all the breathlessness over the minute movements in the irrelevant national polls, the one thing no one seems to be noticing is that the electoral map is still trending very poorly for John McCain (R).

I realize that it cuts against the media narrative right now to focus on anything that doesn't suggest a dead-heat, but it's quite instructive to see how the independent groups (and even right-leaning ones) currently see the state of the race through the only prism that matters -- the Electoral College:

If you think about the reporting of the fluctuating state polls lately that show a tight race, all of them involve red states that McCain can't afford to lose: Colorado, Montana, Virginia, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Alaska, Georgia, etc.

Despite the media narrative that a number of blue states are competitive, the truth is none of the recent polling shows McCain making any significant inroads in the blue states. Consider:

• In Michigan, McCain had not led in any poll since May;
• In Pennsylvania, McCain has not led in any poll April, and a Republican poll released last week showed McCain trailing by 9, in line with the current Pollster.com average;
• In New Hampshire, McCain has not led in any poll since April;
• In Minnesota, while one recent poll showed McCain within the margin of error, no other poll in the past month (including one poll taken more recently) has him within 12 points.

So, while the media breathlessly reports the national tracking polls which shows a close race, the state polling is still showing a pretty significant Obama lead.

So, in short, BREATHE. . .and don't fall for the media's fervent wish to drag this thing out all the way to November.

Clinton compares herself to Rocky

Somebody failed to tell her that the black man prevailed in that one:

Addressing a meeting of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Tuesday, the former first lady and New York senator said she, like Rocky, wasn't a quitter.

Recalling a famous scene on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Clinton said to end her presidential campaign now would be as if "Rocky Balboa had gotten halfway up those art museum steps and said, 'Well, I guess that's about far enough.'"

"Let me tell you something, when it comes to finishing a fight, Rocky and I have a lot in common. I never quit. I never give up. And neither do the American people," Clinton said.

In the same meeting of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO where she made the above analogy today, Clinton also proclaimed once more that she fought her husband over the passage of Nafta:

"I clearly recall entering the oval office at that time, under heavy sniper fire and with my head down. Of course, Bill DID have some sort of odd protocol regarding keeping one's head down when entering that office. I never did get that, though I suppose someone else may have."

Clinton also denounced repeated calls for her to end her campaign, even as the latest polling in Pennsylvania suggests that state's primary may end it for her. Her 20 point lead of one month ago now stands at a 5 point lead as of yesterday.

"People told George Bush to bow out in 2000, despite Al Gore's lead. These things can be tended to by the right people; the "Super" friends."

Obama/Clinton Update

Obama still pulling ahead


In California, Obama gained two points on Clinton overnight to lead 46 percent to 40 percent, with a margin of error of 3.2 percentage points.

Obama wiped out a 1-point Clinton advantage in Missouri to take a 47 percent to 42 percent lead, with a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.

The two rivals were deadlocked at 43 percent in New Jersey, with 10 percent still undecided. Obama had a 17-point edge in Georgia, aided by a more than 3-to-1 edge among black voters.

Both Democrats continued to build a strong base of support, with Clinton favored by women, Hispanics and elderly voters and Obama favored by blacks, men and young voters.

New Hampshire Exit Polls

We've just surpassed the 50% mark on the New Hampshire vote tally. Here are some interesting tidbits from the exit polls thus far:

In a reversal from Iowa, it seems that more women have voted for Hillary than for Barack, while Barack is winning the men.

Barack is winning two-thirds of voters under 25; Hillary is getting almost half of voters 65 and older.

As per Iowa, Hillary is doing better with those who have a high school diploma or less, while Barack is doing better with those who have achieved a higher level of education.

So. . .Hillary is capturing the older and less-educated vote, while Barack is taking in the younger, educated crowd. . .It certainly does appear that one candidate is truly the agent of choice for change, eh?