Obama Visit Coming to Jacksonville.

[RiversideGator]

obama definitely LOOKS cooler than McCain in that pic.    i'll give him that. 

McCain for President, Obama for best friend!

[RiversideGator]

Lake:  Interesting stat re women.  Unfortunately for the Dems, men also vote and they vote for the Republicans typically in larger numbers than women vote for the Dems (in recent Presidental elections at least).

[thelakelander]

Lake:  Interesting stat re women.  Unfortunately for the Dems, men also vote and they vote for the Republicans typically in larger numbers than women vote for the Dems (in recent Presidental elections at least).

Good observation.  The McCain's ability to attract a large percentage of white males is the only thing keeping this election from being a runaway.  Here are some more polls.

Obama's Clues to Wooing the Latino Vote

By Marcela Sanchez
Special to washingtonpost.com
Friday, June 13, 2008; 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON -- One of the key questions emerging since Sen. Barack Obama secured the Democratic nomination is whether he will be able to woo Hispanic voters, a significant segment of the electorate in several battleground states. Sen. Hillary Clinton frequently beat Obama 2-to-1 among Latinos during the primary.

The most optimistic argue that the migration to Obama will come naturally -- and that Hispanics favored Clinton because of better name recognition. Now in the general election, when the choice is between a Democrat and a Republican, a majority of Hispanics will no doubt flock to Obama. Recent Gallup Polls show Obama winning 62 percent of Hispanic registered voters nationwide, compared with 29 percent for Republican Sen. John McCain.

Even those more skeptical concede that at least a majority of Latinos will vote Democratic in November. At their height of popularity, Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush garnered around 40 percent of Latino votes.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/12/AR2008061201944.html


Right now, its a virtual tie.





http://www.gallup.com/poll/107854/Gallup-Daily-ObamaMcCain-Race-Reverts-Virtual-Tie.aspx

[vicupstate]

A poll out today gives Obama an 11 point lead in Ohio.  It's never wise to put too much stock in any one poll [outlier do happen], but if that becomes a trend, then obviously the Clinton voters are coming home to the Democratic nominee.

No Republican has ever won the presidency without winning Ohio. 

Another poll out yesterday has Obama up in Virginia by 1 point, 45-44.  Virginia has not supported a Democrat for POTUS since 1964, but the VA GOP has gone from politically dominance to almost total meltdown.  There may be 'reverse coattails' in Virginia as well.  Polls in the open senate seat show the Democrat, former Governor Mark Warner (no relation to the retiring John Warner), has opened up nearly a 2-1 lead over the former GOP Governor, James Gilmore.   BTW,  Mark Warner will be a name you hear in the future for POTUS. 

Without a doubt, Virginia's electoral votes are fully in play, a first in my lifetime.     

[RiversideGator]

If Obama wins Ohio by 11 and VA by any number, it is a blowout.  We will see.  It is a bit early still and Obama is benefiting from the bump he got from apparently winning the Dem nomination. 

[vicupstate]

Indeed, it is early.  Too early to predict anything, but indicative that these states are in play.

[RiversideGator]

But, perhaps things are not going as well as expected in the Obama campaign:

'Danger Signs' as Clinton Supporters Resist Obama
Democratic Candidate Leads but Still Struggles to Win Over Key Groups
By JAKE TAPPER
June 17, 2008

Sen. Barack Obama has emerged from his bruising battle for the Democratic presidential nomination with only a six point lead over Sen. John McCain and claiming his Republican rival has been getting a "pass" from the media.

A ABC News/Washington Post poll shows Obama, D-Ill., leading McCain, R-Ariz., by a margin of 48 percent to 42 percent. It is a surprisingly small lead considering that the incumbent Republican president George Bush is at record lows and public opinion overwhelmingly feels the country is on the "wrong track".

No Bounce, Resistance from Clinton Supporters

The poll indicates that Obama did not get the traditional "bounce" in the public's opinion by finally defeating Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and getting her endorsement as the Democratic presidential candidate.

While leading among young voters and other key demographics, ABC News chief Washington correspondent George Stephanopoulos saw what he called "danger signs" for Obama.

In an exclusive network interview with ABC News, Obama said that his long Democratic primary battle with Clinton, which wasn't settled until early June, spared McCain critical scrutiny.

"While we were doing that, John McCain basically was getting a pass, both from the media . . . as well as from other opponents. And so I think that explains it," said Obama of the close race.

It is an ironic accusation from Obama.

During the bitter Democratic fight, the Clinton camp repeatedly complained that Obama was getting a pass from the media.

Obama Targets Key Groups

Obama has been trying to shore up key components of the geographic and demographic components he will need to win the presidency.

He accepted the endorsement Monday night of former vice president and global warming guru Al Gore in Detroit. It was the second major endorsement Obama staged in the key state of Michigan, having announced the backing of former presidential contender John Edwards in Michigan as well.

Obama was trying to make up for lost time in the swing state because he had avoided Michigan during the primaries as the Democratic Party punished the state for holding its primary earlier than the party wanted.

Obama also tried to head off any inroads McCain might make among women voters by arguing on GMA that "on almost every single issue that's important to women, he [McCain] has been on the wrong side."

"You know, he's in favor of judges who would overturn Roe v. Wade. He has opposed equal pay," Obama said, and charged that McCain also fought a program to insure children and to protect women from discrimination.

Women, particularly married white women, however, may be a problem for Obama, according to the Washington Post/ABC poll.

It showed that McCain has a 20 point advantage over Obama among married white women, a group that George Bush also won in the last two presidential elections.

Stephanopoulos told GMA that the figure was a "danger sign" for Obama. "This is a huge gap that Obama has to close if he's going to do well."

Question of Experience

Obama faces an additional problem that only half of the voters saying he has the necessary experience to be president.

"If you look at the key question of experience, that may be what's holding him back," Stephanopoulos said. "Only 50 percent of voters say that Barack Obama has the experience to be president. A full 46 percent say, no, he doesn't have the experience . . . That's one of the reasons they are going on the foreign trips."

Obama has talked publicly about going to Iraq, but ABC News has learned that he is adding Afghanistan to his travel itinerary.

The crucial political battle appears to be shaping up around independent voters between the age of 30 and 64.

"Those middle of the road independent voters, they are breaking right down the middle," Stephanopoulos said. "This is going to be a key battleground for both campaigns going into November."

While Obama runs well among younger voters, they are not always reliable when it comes to showing up at the polls. Meanwhile, he is 12 points behind McCain among the more reliable older voters.

In addition, nearly a quarter of Clinton's voters are holding back on their support, according to the ABC News/Washington Post poll.

"If that number stays that high, it will be difficult for Barack Obama to win," Stephanopoulos said.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Vote2008/Story?id=5183218&page=2

[RiversideGator]

Wow.  If Obama were to still lose despite all the advantages Dems have this cycle, libs like Stephen and Midway would just come unhinged.  It is almost worth it for me to donate some cash to McCain whom I have never really liked.   

[vicupstate]

Lake:  Interesting stat re women.  Unfortunately for the Dems, men also vote and they vote for the Republicans typically in larger numbers than women vote for the Dems (in recent Presidental elections at least).

Sen. Barack Obama holds an edge over Sen. John McCain nationally, according to the latest Reuters/Zogby telephone survey.

Obama leads McCain, 47% to 42%, with 12% saying they prefer someone else or are not yet sure about their selection in the race.

Key findings: He holds a double-digit lead among women, while McCain holds a six-point lead among men. Both candidates are winning about four of every five voters from their own party, but Obama enjoys a substantial 22-point lead among political independents.

[vicupstate]

Wow.  If Obama were to still lose despite all the advantages Dems have this cycle, libs like Stephen and Midway would just come unhinged.  It is almost worth it for me to donate some cash to McCain whom I have never really liked.   

Democrats are taking a gamble on a somewhat untested candidate, and a minority, when this election should be an easy one (provided Hillary wasn't the nominee).  That is a testament to McCain's appeal to independents more than anything.

However, the payoff is commesurate with the risk.  A solid win by Obama could solidify a strong Democratic allegiance among minorities, and the youngest generation of voters.  Plus his 50-state campaign could bring in some additional House and Senate seats that otherwise might be left on the table.  He has already brought new states into play versus Gore and Kerry.

The latest Quinnipiac Swing State polls shows Sen. Barack Obama -- with strong support among women, blacks and younger voters -- leading Sen. John McCain among likely voters in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania The results show:


In Florida, Obama edges McCain 47% to 43%
In Ohio, Obama tops McCain 48% to 42%   ( note this is smaller than the other poll, variations are typical)
In Pennsylvania, Obama leads McCain 52% to 40%

Notable: This is the first time Obama has led in all three states. No one has been elected President since 1960 without taking two of these three largest swing states in the Electoral College.

Gator, maybe it is YOU you needs to worry about becoming unhinged.

[thelakelander]

updated poll map:

Obama 344 McCain 194



http://www.electoral-vote.com/

[vicupstate]

A new Insider Advantage poll out tonight has McCain winning Georgia by 1 point.  Unless it is a fluke, you can change GA to a lighter shade of Red. 

Obama announced his first ad buy of the general election.  It will run in 18 states, including 4 that haven't voted for a Democrat since 1964 (Virginia, Alaska, North Dakota and Indiana) and one that hasn't voted Democrat since 1976 (NC).  The complete list :

Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Virginia. 

[RiversideGator]

An Obama Presidency will be an utter disaster if he wins.  Mark my words.

[Jason]

Obama to visit Jacksonville today

He'll attend a fundraiser, but will not make any public appearances.

By The Times-Union


Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will visit Jacksonville today for a $500-a-person fundraiser. He is not expected to make any public appearances.

This will be his first visit to Jacksonville this year.

Police said they do not anticipate any special traffic problems before the private fundraiser, which starts at 6 p.m. at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.

Obama stopped visiting Florida in August. He made that decision after the Democratic National Committee decided to strip both Florida and Michigan of delegates to the national convention because the two states moved their primaries to earlier dates, a violation of party rules.

Obama made his first Florida appearance this year in late May, after he had virtually secured the Democratic nomination.

Source: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/062008/met_292936391.shtml

[vicupstate]

An Obama Presidency will be an utter disaster if he wins.  Mark my words.

I'm sure in YOUR mind, he will be a disaster no matter what happens for the next four years.  Mark my words.