After it's brief stint as a red state in 2004, it looks like Obama's vast organization and popularity in the state are finally taking hold.
The latest CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corp poll is out and great news in the state of Iowa. The poll shows Obama leading McCain 55-40 - his best showing so far. This pushes the Pollster.com average to 50-41 Obama. It also shows Obama up big in Minnesota and up two points (within MOE) in Ohio. Soon Minnesota and Iowa will come off the battleground state list and free up money for states like NC, Georgia and Virginia.
In a CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corp. survey out Wednesday afternoon, 55 percent of Iowa registered voters who were questioned said that Obama, D-Illinois, is their choice for president, with 40 percent backing McCain, R-Arizona. That's more than double the lead Obama had in a University of Iowa poll taken early last month.
But that's not the most exciting part of the poll. (emphasis mine)
"Obama is winning in all regions of the state, even in the western counties, where George W. Bush beat John Kerry by 17 points," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. "Obama is winning rural voters in Iowa, not something you see in many other states."
This is exciting news for two reasons. First of all, it shows Obama can (and ultimately will) do well with rural voters. But for me, it's exciting because this is where I grew up. This portion of Iowa is as conservative as it sounds. It's home to my parents' farm and IA - 05, Cook PVI +8 and home of the infamous Steve King (R). If the voters of conservative district are supporting Obama, this is a great sign of things to come. Large portions of the district also are in the Omaha media market, so hopefully there will be some great spillover into Nebraska.
At any rate, great news for Obama, and a great sign that Obama will deliver Iowa this fall!