Hotline Tracking poll: Obama 49 McCain 42 (O has a 17-point lead in battleground states)

[WI_DEM]

Obama/Biden: 49%
McCain/Palin: 42%
Undec 6%

-- In the battleground states (CO, OH, MI, NH, NM, FL, VA, WI, NV), Obama has a 17 pt. lead - 54-37%.

-- The number of early/absentee voters continues to tick up. These voters now make up 17% of the LV sample.

-- McCain leads among men by 3 pts. (47-44%), but trails Obama among women voters by 16 pts. (37-53%).

-- Among white women, the two candidates are essentially tied with McCain at 45% and Obama at 46%.

Today's Diageo/Hotline tracking poll, conducted 10/26-28 by FD, surveyed 870 LVs and has a margin of error of +/-

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/

(keep this kicked as high as the RAS poll threads)

[HughMoran]

1. Well, that's it then. Obama 54 - McCain 37 - my new figure of merit

National polls have little meaning this close to the election as "undecideds" bring the "underdog" seemingly into range, but not in reality.

[MindMatter]

12. It will be MUCH closer than this

There is a strange effect out there, something like the Bradley Effect, but not really that. Republicans are EMBARRASSED to support McCain-Palin publicly. I am seeing about 20:1 signs for Obama-Biden, even in neighborhoods that normally go strong GOP.

But may of these people are going to vote GOP, even though they don't want their neighbors to know that. My theory is that if they have made the decision to be underground in their support, this will be reflected in the polls as well. If a person is willing to deceive their neighbors, then they would do the same thing with a pollster. Once you start down the path of deceit, one thing leads to the next.

[Smuckies]

2. I will be very content when Obama wins Ohio.

[Jennicut]

4. Ohio is looking better every day, Smuckies.

Its been moving up towards Obama this whole week.

[Jennicut]

3. 7 points. I'll take it. The early voting is incredible. Wonder what the #'s were in 2004.

[WI_DEM]

11. seven points is pretty good, indeed.

[WI_DEM]

5. why do people let this thread just drop like a rock, while they keep pushing the RAS poll higher?

I just don't understand the DU mentality. Good news is discarded and bad news gets all the responses.

[WI_DEM]

6. kick

[renate]

7. thank you!

Love that 17-point lead where it matters! :woohoo:

[Hope And Change]

8. K & R!

[WI_DEM]

9. kick

[RayOfHope]

10. Kick! nt