Hillary’s Voice

Closing in: Real Clear Politics

Poll: Convention lifts McCain over Obama (USA Today)
WASHINGTON — The Republican National Convention has given John McCain and his party a significant boost, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken over the weekend shows, as running mate Sarah Palin helps close an “enthusiasm gap” that has dogged the GOP all year. McCain leads Democrat Barack Obama by 50%-46% among registered voters, the Republican’s biggest advantage since January and a turnaround from the USA TODAY poll taken just before the convention opened in St. Paul. Then, he lagged by 7 percentage points.

The convention bounce has helped not only McCain but also attitudes toward Republican congressional candidates and the GOP in general… McCain has narrowed Obama’s wide advantage on handling the economy, by far the electorate’s top issue. Before the GOP convention, Obama was favored by 19 points; now he’s favored by 3… In the new poll, taken Friday through Sunday, McCain leads Obama by 54%-44% among those seen as most likely to vote. [Emphasis added in all cases.]

McCain Beats Obama in TV Ratings (by SusanUnPC at No Quarter)
John McCain has topped Barack Obama. “McCain TV Ratings Beat Obama in Preliminary Numbers” at TVWeek.com, via Memeorandum.com: “Across all broadcast networks Thursday, Sen. McCain’s speech ended the night with a 4.8 rating/7 share, compared to Sen. Obama’s 4.3/7 average.”
People are clearly looking for an alternative to Obama.—Caro

SurveyUSA: More Americans Think McCain Will Win
A new SurveyUSA poll shows Sen. John McCain leads Sen. Barack Obama, 49% to 44%, among respondents who were asked “if you were placing a bet today” who do you think will be elected president?
What to do, what to do? Oh, I know, RUN TO DADDY! See below.—Caro

Obama plans extended meeting with Bill Clinton (AP)
WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama plans to lunch with former President Clinton this week in what will be their first extended face-to-face meeting since the bitter primary season.
I hope the Big Dog reams him another one. Oh, and what else to do? Why, RUN TO MOMMY, TOO! But will Mommy cooperate?—Caro

The Real ’08 Fight: Clinton v. Palin? (New York Times)
Mrs. Clinton is heading to Florida on Monday to campaign for Mr. Obama. And while his advisers expect her to serve as a counterweight to the McCain-Palin ticket, Clinton advisers are emphatic that Mrs. Clinton does not plan to attack Ms. Palin. [Emphasis added.] Whether that remains the case through the fall is an open question, especially if Ms. Palin starts doing as well with, say, women who watch “The View” as Mrs. Clinton did… How much Mrs. Clinton wants to help Mr. Obama is another matter. Some of her aides note with a hint of resentment that Mr. Obama did not pick her as his running mate; he did not even vet her fully. Plus, they add, her fall calendar also includes campaigning for Senate Democratic candidates, not just for Mr. Obama.

Hillary Campaigns in Florida for Obama, but Will She Take On Palin? (by Jake Tapper at Political Punch, ABC News)
At New York City’s annual Labor Day parade and in Staten Island Saturday, Clinton was asked about Palin. She demurred… Clinton “only mentioned Palin by name once during the day, at the labor breakfast, when she uttered a modified version of a line from her speech at the Democratic National Convention. ‘No way, no how, no McCain, no Palin,’ she said.” There are Obama supporters who feel Clinton needs to make a strong case against Palin. And they are intrigued — and troubled — by the fact that she won’t.
Go blow, troubled Obama supporters.—Caro

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Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com