As an Issue, Taxes Favor Obama: Polls Lean Toward Democrat on a Traditional GOP Strength

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Washington Post

....(F)or the first time in decades, Democrats appear to have the upper hand in the debate over taxes. Independent analysts estimate that only a small fraction of small-business owners would see their taxes increase under Obama's plan, and polls show that voters are beginning to accept Obama's argument that more Americans would see their taxes cut under his proposals. Even some Republicans said they worry that Obama has more than neutralized a signature GOP issue with the promise of a tax cut for middle-class Americans, while putting McCain on the defensive by alleging -- unfairly, in the view of independent analysts -- that the Republican would raise taxes on health-care benefits....

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In the latest Washington Post-ABC tracking poll, Obama maintains a 51 to 43 percent lead over McCain on handling taxes. Obama's edge on this question in the Post poll is identical to the one President Bush held over John F. Kerry at this stage four years ago. At about this same point eight years ago, Bush was up 13 points on taxes over Al Gore....

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McCain's allies say Obama's ability to flood the airwaves on the issue, particularly with an ad that goes after McCain's plan to eliminate the tax deductibility of employer-provided health coverage, has shifted the conversation (The money would be made up with a refundable tax credit for individuals to buy health insurance, but Obama has made headway by arguing that the plan amounts to a major tax increase on the middle class).

Grover Norquist, a leading anti-tax activist, said the ads are swamping McCain's message. "The candidate that is running as the tax-cut candidate in the ads is Obama," he said, adding that McCain's credibility as a tax cutter has also been undermined because he opposed Bush's tax cuts before embracing them....

In Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Edward G. Rendell said recently that, in his state, Obama had reversed the perception that he would raise most people's taxes. Along with Obama's plan to stimulate the economy, "That's what people want to hear, and that's what's turned the election," Rendell said.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

[Oregone]

1. But, but, what about Joe the Plumber?!?

[skooooo]

2. He gets an extra plunger for Christmas. nt

[Nambe]

3. There is nothing like a crisis to make lazy voters study the candidates.

That hurts GOP con artists. A good person with a good plan gets the votes when people are paying attention.