by Frank James
If Sen. John McCain's efforts to go after Sen. Barack Obama's character are having any negative effect on the senator from Illinois, it's not yet discernible in the latest Gallup overnight tracking poll which shows the Democratic presidential nominee leading his Republican counterpart by eight percentage points.
Here's what Frank Newport of Gallup writes:
PRINCETON, NJ -- Barack Obama leads John McCain among registered voters across the country by a 50% to 42% margin in Gallup Poll Daily tracking from Oct. 3-5, the tenth straight day in which Obama has held a statistically significant lead.
This ten-day stretch of a significant Obama lead is the longest since he became the presumptive nominee back in early June, and the longest for either candidate at any point in the campaign. (To view the complete trend since March 7, 2008, click here.) Today's result includes interviewing conducted Friday through Sunday, after the Oct. 2 vice presidential debate between Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joe Biden, and after Friday's passage of a revised economic rescue plan to help alleviate the Wall Street financial crisis.
The results suggest that neither of these events had a significant impact on voter preferences.
Looked at broadly, Obama's percent of the vote has been within a very narrow range of 48% to 50% over the last ten days, and McCain's has been within an equally narrow range of 42% of 44% over the same time period. These results suggest that aside from normal sampling error, the underlying dynamics of the race have become quite stable, and underscore the degree to which there has been little meaningful change in the race in well over a week.
• 
• 
Comments
A sizable lead isn't sufficient in light of the Swift-boat attacks now underway.
Posted by: Kenneth Janowski | October 6, 2008 1:40 PM
Swift board attacks worked early in the campaign against Kerry where people were still forming their opinions of the candidates. We have less than 30 days left. Opinions are much harder to change now.
Posted by: Mark G | October 6, 2008 2:27 PM
Ya but most arent buying McCain and Palins terror accusations. It might impress their base but we arent falling for it this time.
Obama clearly had very limited contact with this person. And it was for school fundraisers and nothing more.
McCain campain is trying to make something out of nothing because they are desperate.
I mean what do they have? They offer no change.
Posted by: Stan | October 6, 2008 2:36 PM
McCain's past can't stand inspection.
Posted by: ericmiami | October 6, 2008 2:38 PM
KEEP PALIN ON THE TRAIL TALKING ABOUT AYERS AND NOT THE ECONOMY OR TODAYS MARKET - ITS WORKING FOR THE DEMS, YOU BETCHA!!!! WINK
Posted by: VIRGINA VOTER | October 6, 2008 2:39 PM
I suspect the Swift Boat attacks are less about drawing in new voters and more about rallying the base in places like Missouri and North Carolina to avoid an Obama landslide.
Independents are key in this election and McCain knows that Independents are turned off by overly negative campaigning.
Posted by: Cal | October 6, 2008 2:53 PM
Kenneth you are a fool to believe in these tired stories that were debunked and lost any steam they had umm like 18 months ago. What the GOP should watch out for is a reverse Swiftboat with the Keating 5.
Posted by: Andrea | October 6, 2008 2:56 PM
I'm votin' for Obama-Biden, for shore!
Posted by: Joe Six-Pack | October 6, 2008 3:12 PM
Andrea: "Kenneth you are a fool" Right. I'm leading the chant: four more years, four more years, four more years.
Posted by: Kenneth Janowski | October 6, 2008 3:30 PM
http://www.bop-o-rama.com tells a different story. I do not thinkobam wants to lead this poll. But maybe he does!
McCain/Palin '08
Posted by: acarponzo | October 6, 2008 9:53 PM