"Obama widens his lead in polls. So why does it feel like he's in trouble?"

[applegrove]

Obama widens his lead in polls. So why does it feel like he's in trouble?

By Liz Marlantes at the CSMonitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Wire/2012/0725/Obama-widens-his-lead-in-polls.-So-why-does-it-feel-like-he-s-in-trouble

"SNIP.....................................

According to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, President Obama has widened his lead over rival Mitt Romney. He’s now six points ahead (49 to 43 percent nationwide), up from a three-point lead (47 to 44 percent) last month.

In the key swing states, Mr. Obama’s doing even better. NBC/WSJ has him leading by eight points in the top 12 battlegrounds.

This is good news for the president. So why does it feel as if he’s in a tougher spot than he’s been in for much of the campaign?

Well, the poll shows Obama’s negatives are up, as are Mr. Romney’s – a result of the attack ads that both sides have been running. Even there, however, the numbers look worse for Romney, who, the poll points out, would be the only modern nominee to have a “net negative” favorability rating (meaning more people view him unfavorably than favorably).

........................................SNIP"

[annabanana]

1. So why does it feel as if he’s in a tougher spot? Would anyone over at

Beltway Media Corp care to field that question?

[sofa king]

12. Heheh. They "feel" they need a close race.

This is 1996 all over again: disproportionate coverage of a hateful, clownish and stumbling nominee while the President competently does his job and cruises to a well-planned victory.

The press doesn't dare show how quickly this is running away from the Republicans, because that would lower advertising revenue and, probably just as importantly this time, would cost the individuals in front of the camera and at the top considerably when their tax cuts expire along with their wishes of a Republican victory.

It was even more amusing after election day in 1996, when papers like the Washington Post began telling readers that "insiders" had been confident of a Clinton victory for months, that the polls had pointed to it for weeks, and even the Dole people had known it for days. Yet curiously, they had never mentioned it before.

Because that would have been unfair... to the Republican.

[NYC_SKP]

2. He's a black man and the Right Wing is Evil and Desperate.

That's why it feels like he's in trouble, most likely always will.

Stay Strong!

[elleng]

3. To whom does it feel like he's in trouble?

edit '(Romney's) chances of winning the Electoral College were listed at 35.0 percent by the model as of Wednesday night’s forecast, his best figure since the June 26 release of our numbers.'
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/july-25-romney-gains-in-tracking-polls/

.

[applegrove]

4. My heart sinks every so often. I'm from Canada and it is scary to watch what half the American

population will believe.

[elleng]

7. With you, apple.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

5. I guess the media and the GOP?

[emulatorloo]

18. To "columnists" who are desperate for hits on their web page.

[sellitman]

6. I'm thinking the same thing

up until PBO wipes the mat with Mittard.

[liberal N proud]

8. He is dealing with the republican corporation

Endless cash and enough corruption to steal 50 elections.

[Lysystrata]

13. Yes, Oh yes

Look what's going on.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/06/the-rich-know-how-to-buy-happiness-do-you/258244/

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. I guess when so media folks don't have the polls on their side, they can always have their feelings

Yes, the polls say Obama is winning, but doesn't it FEEL as if he's in trouble?

Why yes, right there in my GUT. It's positively TRUTHY!

[annabanana]

23. absolute truthiness

right on the button

[Sheepshank]

25. Then to cap it all off

the Media decides they know excatly cuase and effect, "Well, the poll shows Obama’s negatives are up, as are Mr. Romney’s – a result of the attack ads that both sides have been running." . Nowhere in the article is there one metion of the polll that included the direct question "Are you voting negatively because of attack ads?"

[SoutherDem]

10. Beyond the media,

Running against Romney and all of the baggage Romney has tied around his neck, Obama should be leading by 30 or 40%, IMHO. Obama should be so far ahead there should be no way for the media to spin Romney into having a slight chance.

If you would have asked people if they would vote for someone with Romney's record without telling them it is Romney or they would be running against Obama they would laugh in your face. But, since he is running against Obama he has a good chance but then again Adolph Hitler would have a chance against Obama. Sadly, the right hates Obama that much. Once again IMHO.

[MannyGoldstein]

11. Because the economy is a catastrophe, and

all Obama fights for is free trade and a Grand Bargain to austerity the crap out of the 99%?

[emulatorloo]

17. See post #9

[Roselma]

14. He's in trouble because

Democrats and liberals are not reliable voters. They lack the sense of "duty" to vote that Republicans and conservatives feel. They tend to talk themselves out of their own candidates and, as the media claims, they almost always have an enthusiasm gap. Not only is "enthusiasm" down from 2008, but there are a number of states that have enacted new voting laws that will likely mean that some Democrats and liberals will be disenfranchised. The survey/poll numbers today look good, but people still have to take themselves to the polls, and that's why Obama has to poll much higher - to allow for those who won't get out and vote on election day or who will be turned away.

[applegrove]

15. That is so true.

[lovemydog]

21. Especially younger voters.

I hope voters in their 20's will get out the vote for democrats the way they did in 2008.

[emulatorloo]

16. Liz Marlantes is full of "truthiness"

It "feels" like Obama is in trouble, in spite of the evidence.

[avebury]

19. Romney should have zero chance of winning, however, the

Republicans are 100% capable of trying to steal the election at the electronic voting machines.

[JoePhilly]

20. You don't need 100s of 24/7 media pundits if the race isn't "close." Those jobs can't be risked.

Obama could be up by 20 points, and the media would still be claiming the race was close.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

22. Because some people WANT him to be?

[otohara]

24. GOP Voter Disenfranchisement

will prevent thousands from voting.

[mucifer]

26. The margin of error .

[rox63]

27. Because you can never, ever let your guard down

when the repugs and their billionaire friends will do anything to win.

[marlakay]

28. Isn't Romney not allowed to use certain funds until after the convention?

I bet after convention we will see a blitz of negative ads and money like we have never seen before. That is why Obama lashed out first….

[MatthewStLouis]

29. It's hard to be optimistic about a country that allowed Dubya to be president for 8 years...

That and we are waiting for the money bomb to drop. Lots of slick ads on the way...

I guess the main thing that gives me hope is the fact that President Obama is a warm caring person. RMoney is a cold fish.