Obama neck and neck with McCain in Arizona

[azmouse]

I think what makes this article so interesting is that it was printed on the front page of the AZ Republic, the newspaper that just endorsed McCain this past Sunday. I was very surprised that they didn't bury it on an inside page.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/election08/articles/2008/10/29/20081029asupoll1029.html

Sen. John McCain's once-comfortable lead in Arizona has all but evaporated, according to a new poll that has the underdog Republican presidential candidate struggling in his own backyard.

With less than a week until Election Day, McCain is leading his Democratic rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, by 2 points, 46 to 44, down from a 7-point lead a month ago and a double-digit lead this summer, according to a poll from Arizona State University.

Factor in the 3-percentage point margin of error, and a race that was once a nearly sure thing for McCain is now a toss-up, pollsters say.
"One would think McCain would still carry Arizona, but anybody who says they can predict the state this time, they can't. It's going to depend on who goes to the polls," said Tara Blanc, associate director of the poll, which was done by ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and local PBS affiliate Channel 8 (KAET).

The poll of about 1,000 registered voters indicated about 9 percent are undecided, giving campaigns few people to convince in the next six days.

Working in McCain's favor, the state has 1.1 million registered Republicans, about 96,000 more than Democrats.

In Obama's favor, the state has about 824,000 independent voters who support Obama over McCain 60 percent to 40 percent, according to the poll.

[bklyngrl60]

1. Whoo Hoo!! Now this is good news. McCain better fit in a trip back to AZ to campaign. nt

xx

[azmouse]

2. I wish Obama could make a trip here.

How awesome would it be to see huge crowds for Obama on the local AZ news!

[kentuck]

6. Indeed !

That would piss McCain off to the max. :-)

[Smuckies]

3. This is great that AZ is competitve...

I definitely think Obama can win it.

[azmouse]

5. Imagine if the Rep candidate wasn't from AZ.

Obama would easily win this state.

[Nevilledog]

4. I live in Northern Arizona.

Very red up here...although I'm seeing more Vote Yes on 102 signs (the bullshit amend the constitution to define marriage as one woman one man) than I am seeing McCain signs. I would feel like I'd died and gone to heaven if AZ went blue.

One thing I gotta say about Obama and the AZ dems this year is that their ground game has been spectacular here. I've been getting at least one call almost every day from the Obama campaign or the AZ Dems calling to remind me to vote (I voted early). The people manning the phones have been so enthusiastic and I always make sure to thank them for all they're doing. I wouldn't mind if they called 100 times a day just so I could have the opportunity to thank them. Oh, and btw...this is the first year I have ever gotten even one call from my party.

[azmouse]

7. I'm in Glendale. Very red here too but I've seen many signs for Obama

I'm getting a lot of calls too about voting.
This is the state race I'll be watching the most.
Can Obama win here? Maybe... just maybe. What an upset that would be!

[Kind of Blue]

8. Wow! New battlegrounds keep popping out like a rash for McCain.

Ha-ha.

[Ian David]

9. Bigger flop than Jimmy Carter's Re-Election Campaign. n/t

[Thrill]

10. We're suppose this moron has a chance in other states when he's barely leading in AZ??

[kayakjohnny]

11. In Flagstaff a week ago. Didn't see any noticeable McCain stuff. A few predictable

bumper stickers in Sedona and Cottonwood. But a huge bunch raucous Obama supporters near the tracks downtown F-staff. They were dressed up pretty funky. Like halloween. But all for Obama. Lots of beeps from approving motoring public. Me, especially.

[kayakjohnny]

14. Course, Flagstaff being a college town, no suprise. But still. Very enthusiastic folks there.

[Mike 03]

12. McCain is now spending money here to make robocalls.

He's out of time, out of ideas, out of money... and he has lost.

[Mike 03]

13. Dupe, sorry.

He's out of time, out of ideas, out of money... and he has lost.

[Miss Chybil]

15. Bumper sticker tally in Prescott

This is just what I noticed yesterday...

Six Obama/Biden stickers
One Who Would Jesus Bomb sticker
One "W" Is for War sticker
One large, hand-painted wooden Obama sign on Hwy 69
One large McCain/Palin sign on main road
One small McCain/Palin sticker

And... one old guy on a Harley pulled up beside me and yelled, "How can you vote for a communist?" :shrug: Oh well...