McCain Camp Responds To Poll: No, We're Only Trailing Obama By Seven Points!

[Pirate Smile]

McCain Camp Responds To Poll: No, We're Only Trailing Obama By Seven Points!

By Eric Kleefeld - June 25, 2008, 1:27PM

The McCain campaign is clearly alarmed by the public's perceptions of yesterday's Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll, which put Barack Obama ahead 49%-37%. They've now blasted out to reporters a memo from GOP pollster Public Opinion Strategies, arguing that they aren't down by that much.

POS argues that the party identification from the LAT/Bloomberg poll was too beneficial to the Dems, at 39% Democrats to 22% Republicans. "If party identification on the L.A. Times survey is recalculated to just down by ten (29% GOP / 39% Dem / 27% Ind / 5% Don't Know/Refused)," they argue, "the ballot would be 40% McCain - 47% Obama."

I'm not sure just how much of an improvement that really is, for the GOP nominee to be polling at only 40% and seven points behind a Democrat who was unknown to most Americans until this past year.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/mccain_camp_responds_to_poll_n.php

McCain camp pushes back on LAT/Bloomberg poll

Recognizing the danger of a perception hardening, the McCain camp has sent out a memo from their pollsters shooting down the LA Times/Bloomberg poll released yesterday (and sitting on Drudge) that shows Obama up 15.

I've posted the whole thing after the jump, but the short argument is that the survey's party id sample was flawed.

"If the L.A. Times survey is recalculated to a more normalized range for party identification, McCain would be down in the mid-single digits, which is what we are seeing in most other polls," write Bill McInturff, Liz Harrington and David Kanevsky.

But, of course, the memo is about much more than just one outlier (or, if you include Newsweek last weekend, two). The McCain camp, putting on their psychology hat, is trying to ease anxities and calm fears among party elites and activists that Obama is developing a lead so significant that it can't be overcome.

Hence this: "It is important that both the campaign, as well as reporters covering the campaign, not over-react to every single survey that is released."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0608/McCain_camp_pushes_back_on_LATBloomberg_poll.html

[bunnies]

1. This makes McCain look incredibly desperate and pathetic.

:rofl: I love it! Wait... I thought they dont pay attention to polls?!

[Pirate Smile]

3. I love the GOP pollster's acronym - POS. "POS says", "According to POS, ..."

:rofl:

[bunnies]

6. lol. I think it suits them perfectly!

In fact, I think they should change GOP to GOPOS! :thumbsup:

[smoogatz]

2. "We've got the REAL math."

Just like they did in '06, I guess.

[droidamus2]

4. Interesting...

So what their saying is if they get to rig the numbers they are still behind by 7% points. Don't sound to good for the McCain crowd now does it :7

[Pirate Smile]

5. If we ignore the fact that more people now identify themselves as Dems and fewer say they are Repubs

then we are only down 7.

If we assume only the people who usually vote, actually vote, then we will lose but not as bad as if all the new people who started showing up in the primaries actually start voting.

I mean really, just because someone cares enough to vote in a caucus or primary, why would anyone assume they care enough to vote in November? :shrug:

This argument truly cracks me up.

[ingac70]

7. McCain camp internal polling shows them down 7?

This makes me feel all warm inside.

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. I think this is why McCain has been so desparate to be onstage with Obama.

He needs to attract the attention of people outside his core support, and the only way he can do that is to stand side by side with Obama at these ridiculous town halls. I mean, would you show up to see McCain on his own?

[ingac70]

9. I can barely watch him on TV...

I'd hate to think his presence sullied my opportunity to see Obama in person!