Clinton Helps Obama To A 9-Point Lead Over McCain

by Steve Soto

Note that in the most recent Gallup tracking poll, taken Friday-Sunday, Obama has now pulled out to a 6-point lead over McCain nationally, 48%-42% among registered voters.

Also note something else: over the last three days, when Hillary is added to the ticket, that lead moves up to an average 9-point lead, 51%-42%. The gain came strictly from undecideds, as McCain's 42% stayed the same in both polls. This gap may grow larger with each passing day since Hillary's Saturday announcement. (This didn't stop the AP from sandbagging Hillary's appeal as a running mate today with poll results that are largely two months old.)

Given the conservative disenchantment with McCain in key areas, I also wonder what effect the Bob Barr Libertarian candidacy will have on McCain down the road. In this election, with Obama contesting McCain in so many states, it may only take 1-2% for Barr in some of these states to swing the state blue.