Oct. 12, 2008
West Virginia Moves to Toss Up Presidential State
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Presidential candidates have been sending their surrogates to stump the Mountain State. After the massive Hillary Clinton primary victory, polls have heavily favored Republican Senator John McCain. However, the most recent survey completed by American Research Group Oct. 4-Oct. 8 has Barrack Obama leading 50-42%.
Averaging these latest numbers with prior totals, the authoritative web site, Real Clear Politics, has shifted West Virginia from safely Republican McCain territory to a “toss up.”
A Rasmussen poll conducted September 24 supplied just the opposite results --- McCain 50% to Obama’s 42%. The projected telephone sampling error was 4.5%. On September 21-23 , a CNN/Time poll gave the state to McCain with a 50%-46% margin.
Back in June, McCain received 45% to Obama’s 37% in a Rasmussen survey. In fact, McCain had “very favorable” and “somewhat favorable” rankings in the 31-32% range, while Obama seemed mired with a 33% “very unfavorable” rating that kept his “very favorable” and “somewhat favorable” numbers in the 24-26% range.
McCain’s numbers have been sliding parallel to the stock market meltdown. CNN reported that citizens “blame the Republicans” for the economic crisis and despite his non-incumbency McCain represents the party in power.
Real Clear Politics (http://www.realclearpolitics.com) averaged poll results, including the Mark Blankenship Enterprise (MBE) McCain 44%-Obama 39% numbers from Sept. 5-8, and McCain’s once solid numbers slip to a scant 2.2% spread.
Prior to the late September results, West Virginia had been rated “solid McCain” by the RCP pollsters. On September 25, the state’s status moved to “leaning McCain” and less than two weeks later it’s now in the “toss up” category.
West Virginia has traditionally been fertile Democratic territory, but the 2000 and 2004 elections saw voters solidly favoring George W. Bush.
Based on RCP current national polling (from October 10) Obama had a solid 211 electoral votes to a solid 143 for McCain. Utilizing their research, RCP has a “no toss up” electoral predictor of Obama/Biden 353 and McCain/Palin 185. 270 electoral votes are needed to win the election.
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West Virginia Moves to Toss Up Presidential State
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Presidential candidates have been sending their surrogates to stump the Mountain State. After the massive Hillary Clinton primary victory, polls have heavily favored Republican Senator John McCain. However, the most recent survey completed by American Research Group Oct. 4-Oct. 8 has Barrack Obama leading 50-42%.
Averaging these latest numbers with prior totals, the authoritative web site, Real Clear Politics, has shifted West Virginia from safely Republican McCain territory to a “toss up.”
A Rasmussen poll conducted September 24 supplied just the opposite results --- McCain 50% to Obama’s 42%. The projected telephone sampling error was 4.5%. On September 21-23 , a CNN/Time poll gave the state to McCain with a 50%-46% margin.
Back in June, McCain received 45% to Obama’s 37% in a Rasmussen survey. In fact, McCain had “very favorable” and “somewhat favorable” rankings in the 31-32% range, while Obama seemed mired with a 33% “very unfavorable” rating that kept his “very favorable” and “somewhat favorable” numbers in the 24-26% range.
McCain’s numbers have been sliding parallel to the stock market meltdown. CNN reported that citizens “blame the Republicans” for the economic crisis and despite his non-incumbency McCain represents the party in power.
Real Clear Politics (http://www.realclearpolitics.com) averaged poll results, including the Mark Blankenship Enterprise (MBE) McCain 44%-Obama 39% numbers from Sept. 5-8, and McCain’s once solid numbers slip to a scant 2.2% spread.
Prior to the late September results, West Virginia had been rated “solid McCain” by the RCP pollsters. On September 25, the state’s status moved to “leaning McCain” and less than two weeks later it’s now in the “toss up” category.
West Virginia has traditionally been fertile Democratic territory, but the 2000 and 2004 elections saw voters solidly favoring George W. Bush.
Based on RCP current national polling (from October 10) Obama had a solid 211 electoral votes to a solid 143 for McCain. Utilizing their research, RCP has a “no toss up” electoral predictor of Obama/Biden 353 and McCain/Palin 185. 270 electoral votes are needed to win the election.
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