Poll shows McCain gaining ground in Florida
Orlando Sentinel poll indicates presidential race in battle ground state remains a tossup
Jim Stratton
Issue date: 10/23/08 Section: World News
In Obama's now famous conversation with "Joe the Plumber," the Illinois senator said he didn't want to punish success but added, "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."
Republicans seized on that, with GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin saying it smacks of socialism. Coker said the message has piqued voters' interest. In Mason-Dixon's last poll, he said, concern about taxes and government spending barely registered as a chief concern. In the new poll, nine percent identified those subjects as the most important issues facing the country.
The economy and jobs remain far and away the biggest concern with 61 percent of poll respondents saying they were the most important issue.
"McCain may have something to use with the tax question," Coker said. "For the first time, they've taken advantage of an Obama mistake."
As if on cue, the Republican Party of Florida released a statement saying, "it looks like Florida voters see through the Obama hype and embrace the McCain-Palin message of keeping more tax dollars in our pockets instead of spreading the wealth around." The RPOF noted a recent Fox News/Rasmussen Reports poll that had McCain up one point in Florida. The RealClearPolitics Web site average of all Florida polls Wednesday gave Obama a one-point edge.
Obama spokeswoman Adrianne Marsh downplayed the poll results, saying, "Some polls have had us up and some have had us down, but we've always expected that it would come down to a tight race in the end."
Florida is a must-win for McCain. He has virtually no chance of winning the White House without the state's 27 electoral votes.
The Obama campaign sees the state as its knockout punch. If it wins here, Obama becomes president.
Both campaigns are pouring enormous resources, surrogates and energy into the state. Obama spent two days campaigning here early this week where he was joined by his wife, Michelle, and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. On Wednesday, Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., was in Miami trying to rally the Cuban vote for McCain at well-trafficked political haunts such as the Versailles Cuban Cafe.
Republicans seized on that, with GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin saying it smacks of socialism. Coker said the message has piqued voters' interest. In Mason-Dixon's last poll, he said, concern about taxes and government spending barely registered as a chief concern. In the new poll, nine percent identified those subjects as the most important issues facing the country.
The economy and jobs remain far and away the biggest concern with 61 percent of poll respondents saying they were the most important issue.
"McCain may have something to use with the tax question," Coker said. "For the first time, they've taken advantage of an Obama mistake."
As if on cue, the Republican Party of Florida released a statement saying, "it looks like Florida voters see through the Obama hype and embrace the McCain-Palin message of keeping more tax dollars in our pockets instead of spreading the wealth around." The RPOF noted a recent Fox News/Rasmussen Reports poll that had McCain up one point in Florida. The RealClearPolitics Web site average of all Florida polls Wednesday gave Obama a one-point edge.
Obama spokeswoman Adrianne Marsh downplayed the poll results, saying, "Some polls have had us up and some have had us down, but we've always expected that it would come down to a tight race in the end."
Florida is a must-win for McCain. He has virtually no chance of winning the White House without the state's 27 electoral votes.
The Obama campaign sees the state as its knockout punch. If it wins here, Obama becomes president.
Both campaigns are pouring enormous resources, surrogates and energy into the state. Obama spent two days campaigning here early this week where he was joined by his wife, Michelle, and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. On Wednesday, Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., was in Miami trying to rally the Cuban vote for McCain at well-trafficked political haunts such as the Versailles Cuban Cafe.
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