Which is the single main reason you think this race is still so close?

[Onlooker]

Poll question: Which is the single main reason you think this race is still so close?

[billyoc]

1. Crappy polls. But yours is good.

:hide:

[codjh9]

2. Other: because a segment of the public is either dumb as a rock, stupid, mean, racist,

, self-centered, or a combination of all.

[Phoonzang]

I second this explanation. n/t

[geekgrrl]

7. Yeah, I have a tendancy to agree with you there. A combo of that and some of the above as well.

Under-representing young (cell phone only) voters AND newly registered voters is a big one as well.

[AnneD]

25. I hit other for the same reason...

And the more I hear their ridiculous arguments the more I am certain. This IS the elephant in the living room.

[terrya]

3. It pains me to say it.

I think it's because of race.

I'm sorry, I hate to sound like some asshole saying it. Flame me if you want.

But looking at what's going on in this country today, I think race is playing a big part as to what we're seeing in the polls right now.

[On the Road]

4. Other:

Because half the nation is Republican and believes McCain is a better alternative than Bush.

[Drum]

5. I don't think this race is close.

I disbelieve those who tell me it is.

[tosh]

28. I'm with you, Drum.

I just can't see it.

The polling methods are not keeping pace with the times. The samples are poor ==> the results are invalid.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

6. Where's the option for "Because he's black"?

:shrug:

[geekgrrl]

8. Seriously! I worry we underestimate the racism effect! nt

[Onlooker]

10. The third option

It's sort of catchall for because he's black, because we think he's Muslim, because he was born in a foreign country, because he's interracial, etc.

[begin_within]

9. People still vote on ideology and "he (or she) shares my values!"

[Bread and Circus]

11. Lack of a proper civics education of Americans

[Sebastian Doyle]

12. All of the above EXCEPT #2 and #8 are true to some extent

But right now it's mostly the whore media and the deliberately inaccurate polling presenting a distorted picture of the reality.

I just do not buy the idea that half the country is still dumb enough to vote for the Repukes again.

[Not the Only One]

13. racist old white people.

That's the reason.

[Neshanic]

14. Racism. Really. Flat out racism.

[robcon]

15. Other.... Sarah Palin. She re-energized the RW nutjobs.

n/t

[Tarc]

16. Other: The Bush Base is a solid mass of inbred redneckery

The cultural wedges matter too much to a solid 40-45% of the nation, it clouds their judgment and robs them of anything approaching intellectual decision-making.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

17. There's actually two main reasons: race and media. The M$M has been playing up race

since the primaries. They can't get enough of this divisive tactic.

And, it gives the bigots permission to express their bigotry through smokescreens: "he's elitst;" "he's a Muslim;" "he's not American;" "he has a racist pastor," etc...All of these and more are "excuses" for refusing to vote for Obama when people cannot admit their racism.

[JimWis]

18. Something to think about -

I was listening to callers on Washington Journal this morning. It's hard to put into words the sense that I got, but most simply, people were fed up with Republicans, and wishing McCain would adopt more of Obama's ideas, but they were voting for McCain. They want all the wonderful ideas and traits of Obama, but no Obama. I probably didn't express it all that well, but I think you see the picture. But I feel and hope this country is coming around - and Obama will win.

[yardwork]

19. I had to go with MSM bias as the main reason, but bigotry and skewed polls are factors, too.

The main reason I worry we'll lose is because I know they'll try to steal it.

[Lucy Goosey]

20. Racism and the MSM.

I don't think that the media re necessarily trying to defeat Obama, per se, but they have a vested interest in keeping the race close - so that we watch more TV, etc.

[invictus]

21. Because the M$M has it's own agenda which is to prop up McCain.

It could be that the M$M want to prop up McCain to prolong the race because of ratings or because of corporate influence. Whatever the reason, the Main Stream Media has repeatedly saved McCain's ass. They did it in the Republican primary and they are doing it now.

[spooky3]

22. too many people care more about American Idol than about the Presidency

they are proud of their ignorance and intellectual laziness.

[mvd]

23. 1. M$M

2. Racism
3. Ignorance/denial/greed/culture war/low info voters

[Marrah_G]

24. Social Issues. Equal Rights and Abortion.

[MBS]

26. the MSM and bigotry do play a role (yesterday's NYT article on

PA voters was chilling), but I think the main reason is the same one that affected the outcome of 2000 and especially 2004: that people are still fearful and still confused,and, alas, still too ignorant; and their fear and ignorance adds even more to their confusion. It really is time not just for the politicians and journalists to rise to the occasion (certainly, people like Obama, Biden, Kerry, Gore and others have been trying hard to make something happen), but also our FELLOW CITIZENS.Time to wake up, everyone. The alarm's been going off for almost 8 years now.

[JPZenger]

27. The first Presidential debate gets the most viewers - here's the schedule

An incredible number of voters watch the first Presidential debate. The economic crisis will make more people pay attention. The viewership then declines for the second and third debates. The 4 debates represent an opportunity to really change the dynamics.

Let's see if Palin can handle questions, now that everyone has heard her best lines too many times.

Here's the schedule from www.youdecide.com

"1. First Presidential Debate:
Date: September 26 – Topic: Foreign Policy & National Security – Moderator: Jim Lehrer – Staging: Podium debate – Answer Format: The debate will be broken into nine, 9-minute segments. The moderator will introduce a topic and allow each candidate 2 minutes to comment. After these initial answers, the moderator will facilitate an open discussion of the topic for the remaining 5 minutes, ensuring that both candidates receive an equal amount of time to comment

2. Vice Presidential Debate
Date: October 2nd – Moderator: Gwen Ifill – Staging/Answer Format: Debate will consist of both foreign and domestic policy questions asked by the moderator. Format will be similar to the presidential debates.

3. Second Presidential Debate
Date: October 7 – Moderator: Tom Brokaw – Staging: Town Hall debate – Format: The moderator will call on members of the audience (and draw questions from the internet). Each candidate will have 2 minutes to respond to each question. Following those initial answers, the moderator will invite the candidates to respond to the previous answers, for a total of 1 minute, ensuring that both candidates receive an equal amount of time to comment. In the spirit of the Town Hall, all questions will come from the audience (or internet), and not the moderator.

4. Third Presidential Debate
Date: October 15 – Topic: Domestic and Economic Issues – Moderator: Bob Schieffer – Staging: Candidates will be seated at a table – Answer Format: Same as First Presidential Debate – Closing Statements: At the end of this debate (only) each candidate shall have the opportunity for a 90 second closing statement.

All four debates will begin at 9pm ET, 6pm PT and last for 90 minutes."

[MBS]

29. fingers crossed you're right. n/t

[Occam Bandage]

30. Other: The electorate votes on cultural self-identification, and roughly half the nation

self-identifies with the McCain mindset, and half with the Obama mindset. We win on all the issues; our task is to make people look to the issues when deciding which candidate is more like them.

[calico1]

31. Other:

A lot of newly registered voters are not being polled.