Pollster: McCain's hold on Arizona shrinking

[Liberal_in_LA]

Pollster: McCain's hold on Arizona shrinking

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/128600


While picking up a handful of Republicans in McCain's home state may not seem like much, longtime pollster Bruce Merrill expects to see real changes when his surveyors start making calls later this week.

This presidential election poses a host of new challenges for pollsters - including the proliferation of cell phones and early voting.

Will Arizona turn blue? Probably not, Merrill predicted, but it could be decidedly purple.

"My guess is that if I took a poll today that McCain would be ahead, maybe, but very slightly," said Merrill, professor emeritus at Arizona State University's Cronkite School of Journalism. "I think it would be a very close race."

McCain had a 7 percentage-point lead over Obama in the last poll for KAET-TV (Channel 8) and the Cronkite school, released Sept. 30, compared with a 10-point spread a month earlier. About 16 percent were undecided.

Merrill said this weekend's survey will challenge traditional polling methods, since thousands of Arizonans have already cast their ballots. Early voting in Arizona began Oct. 2, and more than half of the state's 2.8 million voters are expected to vote before Election Day, which is Nov. 4.

[AZBlue]

1. It will be very close. AZ isn't nearly as red as people assume it is.

And who better to know - and hate - John McCain?

[silverojo]

10. Two decades of living in AZ sure made me hate that bastard

Moving away hasn't made my heart grow any fonder of him, either! :evilgrin:

[Drunken Irishman]

2. That font color really did a number on my eyes.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. lol. Sorry.

[Drunken Irishman]

5. It's all good!

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. ...

Obama 2008!

[FVZA_Colonel]

4. Even though we'd probably never win, having McCain have to campaign in his "home" state

would be so pleasing.

[NRaleighLiberal]

7. McCain has Shrinkage! Not a nice image to have...NT

[quantass]

8. Your color scheme makes me wanna go pee.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. lol

[RNdaSilva]

11. Easier on the eyes...

Pollster: McCain's hold on Arizona shrinking

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/128600


While picking up a handful of Republicans in McCain's home state may not seem like much, longtime pollster Bruce Merrill expects to see real changes when his surveyors start making calls later this week.

This presidential election poses a host of new challenges for pollsters - including the proliferation of cell phones and early voting.

Will Arizona turn blue? Probably not, Merrill predicted, but it could be decidedly purple.

"My guess is that if I took a poll today that McCain would be ahead, maybe, but very slightly," said Merrill, professor emeritus at Arizona State University's Cronkite School of Journalism. "I think it would be a very close race."

McCain had a 7 percentage-point lead over Obama in the last poll for KAET-TV (Channel 8) and the Cronkite school, released Sept. 30, compared with a 10-point spread a month earlier. About 16 percent were undecided.

Merrill said this weekend's survey will challenge traditional polling methods, since thousands of Arizonans have already cast their ballots. Early voting in Arizona began Oct. 2, and more than half of the state's 2.8 million voters are expected to vote before Election Day, which is Nov. 4.