Obama is dropping and McCain is leading.
The website that I got that pie chart from is from fivethirtyeight.com which does state polling...He just needs to focus on winning Key Battle ground states like PA, OH, MI, and Florida. Who cares if more New Yorkers like McCain? NY is a solid Democratic state.
Don't look at the aggregate polls - its the state specific ones I'd worry about.
The website that I got that pie chart from is from fivethirtyeight.com which does state polling...
I personally do not pay much attention to National polls. They are meaningless because of the electoral college.
The only polls that are relevant are specific state polls. I want to know whos in the lead in PA, OH, and FL. Three critical battleground states.
I really don't care what the MA/IL people think of McCain or Obama since I know that state is assure for Obama. Same for McCain for Arizona & Utah - its locked in as Republican.
Here is my suggestion for an accurate assessment of polls:
1. Gather all swing states -
2. Examine the polls of those states
3. Add a plus/minus of the electoral votes gained/need from that state in addition to the votes from solid blue/red states.
This criteria should show you a fair assessment of what polling means in this election - not some general AP/Gallup poll.
<font size="5">
Electoral Vote Count According to
Polls through September 1, 2008:</font size><font size="4">
Needed to win: 270
Obama: 228
McCain: 185:
Toss Up: 125
</font size>
<IFRAME SRC="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/" WIDTH=780 HEIGHT=1500>
<A HREF="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/">link</A>
</IFRAME>
<font size="5">
Electoral Vote Count According to
Polls through September 1, 2008;
(Without Toss Ups):</font size><font size="4">
Needed to win: 270
Obama: 273
McCain: 265:
</font size>
<IFRAME SRC="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/?map=10" WIDTH=780 HEIGHT=1500>
<A HREF="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/?map=10">link</A>
</IFRAME>
<font size="5">
Battleground States
McCain v. Obama
Through, September 9, 2008
</font size><font size="4">
NOTE: Latest Numbers are "Indented"</font size>
Colorado (9 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 45.2
McCain: 44.8
Spread: Obama +0.4
Through September 9, 2008
Date: 08/15 - 09/09
Obama: 46.4
McCain: 45.0
Spread: Obama +1.4
Nevada (5 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 44.3
McCain: 45.3
Spread: McCain +1.0
Michigan (17 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 46.0
McCain: 41.7
Spread: Obama +4.3
Through September 9, 2008
Date:09/05 - 09/09
Obama: 47.0
McCain: 45.0
Spread: Obama +2.0
Ohio (20 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 43.3
McCain: 44.5
Spread: McCain +1.2
Through September 9, 2008
Date: 08/31 - 09/09
Obama: 46.7
McCain: 46.7
Spread: Tie
Pennsylvania (21 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 47.4
McCain: 42.4
Spread: Obama +5.0
Through September 9, 2008
Date: 09/05 - 09/09
Obama: 47.3
McCain: 45.0
Spread: Obama +2.3
Florida (27 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 43.2
McCain: 46.3
Spread: McCain +3.1
Through September 9, 2008
Date: 09/05 - 09/10
McCain: 49.5
Obama: 44.5
Spread: McCain +5.0
Wisconsin (10 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 48.0
McCain: 40.8
Spread: Obama +7.2
New Hampshire (4 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 44.0
McCain: 43.7
Spread: Obama +0.3
Through September 9, 2008
Date: 07/11 - 09/09
Obama: 48.0
McCain: 44.7
Spread: Obama +3.3
New Mexico (5 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 47.3
McCain: 43.0
Spread: Obama +4.3
Through September 9, 2008
Date: 08/13 - 09/08
Obama: 47.0
McCain: 44.7 Obama +2.3
Spread: Obama +2.3
Missouri (11 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 42.7
McCain: 49.7
Spread: McCain +7.0
Virginia (13 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 46.0
McCain: 46.0
Spread: Tie
Through September 9, 2008
Date: 09/05 - 09/09
McCain: 49.3
Obama: 46.7
Spread: McCain +2.6
`
<font size="5">
Battleground States
McCain v. Obama
Through, September 11, 2008
</font size><font size="4">
NOTE: Latest Numbers are "Indented"</font size>
Colorado (9 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 45.2
McCain: 44.8
Spread: Obama +0.4
Through September 9, 2008
Date: 08/15 - 09/09
Obama: 46.4
McCain: 45.0
Spread: Obama +1.4
Through September 10, 2008
Date: 09/07 - 09/10
Obama: 48.3
McCain: 46.0
Spread: Obama +2.3
Nevada (5 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 44.3
McCain: 45.3
Spread: McCain +1.0
Michigan (17 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 46.0
McCain: 41.7
Spread: Obama +4.3
Through September 9, 2008
Date:09/05 - 09/09
Obama: 47.0
McCain: 45.0
Spread: Obama +2.0
Ohio (20 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 43.3
McCain: 44.5
Spread: McCain +1.2
Through September 9, 2008
Date: 08/31 - 09/09
Obama: 46.7
McCain: 46.7
Spread: Tie
Through September 10, 2008
Date: 09/05 - 09/10
Obama: 45.6
McCain: 47.8
Spread: McCain +2.2
Pennsylvania (21 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 47.4
McCain: 42.4
Spread: Obama +5.0
Through September 9, 2008
Date: 09/05 - 09/09
Obama: 47.3
McCain: 45.0
Spread: Obama +2.3
Florida (27 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 43.2
McCain: 46.3
Spread: McCain +3.1
Through September 9, 2008
Date: 09/05 - 09/10
McCain: 49.5
Obama: 44.5
Spread: McCain +5.0
Wisconsin (10 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 48.0
McCain: 40.8
Spread: Obama +7.2
New Hampshire (4 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 44.0
McCain: 43.7
Spread: Obama +0.3
Through September 9, 2008
Date: 07/11 - 09/09
Obama: 48.0
McCain: 44.7
Spread: Obama +3.3
New Mexico (5 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 47.3
McCain: 43.0
Spread: Obama +4.3
Through September 9, 2008
Date: 08/13 - 09/08
Obama: 47.0
McCain: 44.7 Obama +2.3
Spread: Obama +2.3
Missouri (11 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 42.7
McCain: 49.7
Spread: McCain +7.0
Through September 11, 2008
Date: 08/13 - 09/11
Obama: 43.7
McCain: 50.3
Spread: McCain +6.6
Virginia (13 Electoral Votes)
Obama: 46.0
McCain: 46.0
Spread: Tie
Through September 9, 2008
Date: 09/05 - 09/09
McCain: 49.3
Obama: 46.7
Spread: McCain +2.6
`