Poll watch: 8/20

Although Zogby is not my favorite pollster...or the most reliable in my opinion...his new numbers are interesting. From Reuters:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a sharp turnaround, Republican John McCain has opened a 5-point lead on Democrat Barack Obama in the U.S. presidential race and is seen as a stronger manager of the economy, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

McCain leads Obama among likely U.S. voters by 46 percent to 41 percent, wiping out Obama's solid 7-point advantage in July and taking his first lead in the monthly Reuters/Zogby poll.

So what's been happening? McCain's been doing what we've all said needed to happen - define Obama. The guy was a blank slate. So many people supporting him because he represented "change"...just not really knowing what that meant. Well, now, McCain's campaign has been working to fill in the blanks.

One noteable turnaround that demonstrates that point shows McCain has taken the lead in "who would best handle the economy"...

McCain now has a 9-point edge, 49 percent to 40 percent, over Obama on the critical question of who would be the best manager of the economy -- an issue nearly half of voters said was their top concern in the November 4 presidential election.

That margin reversed Obama's 4-point edge last month on the economy over McCain...

And what big economic issue has dominated the news lately? Energy. Specifically, oil and gas prices. And what has been the GOP message? Drill for more...here. Now. More to the point, the GOP's done a better job pushing a "nationalistic" approach to energy...as in, we need to do more of "everything" right here in America. Politically, that's a can't lose proposition. And McCain's numbers show it.

The LA Times, Rasmussen and Gallup all have it at a statistical tie, (with a one point Obama advantage).

One has to wonder how much this kind of thing is figuring into Obama's choice of a running mate...and whether or not it's pushing him more towards a Hillary pick. (Can't imagine the "voices" in his head right now on that subject...).

As I said, Zogby not the most reliable in my book. But what his poll does show is movement...and that McCain's been doing the right things and moving in the right direction.

Obama's sure to get a bounce out of their convention next week. Of course we all thought we would be getting blown out at this point, so maybe the "bounce" won't be so big. Either way, McCain's doing the right thing by making his VP pick the day after Obama's acceptance speech. Let's just hope the "pick" itself keeps things headed in the right direction.

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