SurveyUSA has unleashed a torrent of polling today, with releases from five midwestern states. Two were Kerry states in 2004 (Minnesota and Wisconsin), while three went to George W. Bush in 2004 (Iowa, Ohio, and Missouri).
An earlier diarist pointed out the Iowa polls as evidence of Barack Obama's greater electability in the general. Indeed, of the five, Iowa is far and away the best state in which to make the case.
However, the other four are much more mixed. Point of clarification: the previous diarist was not cherry-picking, Iowa was the only SUSA poll released at the time. Follow me below the fold for the numbers.
IOWA
Clinton ahead of Giuliani 47-42, Huckabee 46-45, Romney 48-45, trails McCain 45-46.
Obama ahead of Giuliani 55-36, Huckabee 52-39, Romney 51-39, McCain 51-39.
MINNESOTA
Clinton ahead of Giuliani 53-40, Huckabee 53-41, Romney 58-36, McCain 51-43.
Obama ahead of Huckabee 47-42, Romney 48-42, trails Giuliani 44-48, McCain 41-50.
MISSOURI
Clinton ahead of Giuliani 49-43, Huckabee 49-47, Romney 51-41, McCain 50-46.
Obama ahead of Giuliani 47-42, Romney 49-39, McCain 47-44, trails Huckabee 47-49.
OHIO
Clinton ahead of Giuliani 49-40, Huckabee 51-39, Romney 51-40, tied w/McCain 45-45.
Obama ahead of Huckabee 43-42, Romney 43-42, trails Giuliani 40-46, McCain 38-47.
WISCONSIN
Clinton ahead of Giuliani 45-42, Huckabee 49-40, Romney 47-42, trails McCain 42-49.
Obama ahead of Giuliani 48-40, Huckabee 52-36, Romney 53-35, McCain 46-44.
SO...WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN??
It means, in short, that the electability argument is a helluva hard one to make, for either side. Obama is considerably stronger than Hillary Clinton in Iowa and Wisconsin. His average lead in those states exceeds ten points, while hers are two and two-and-a-half points, respectively.
However, she has a clear edge in electability in Minnesota and the critical battleground of Ohio, a pair of states where Obama only wins two out of four trial heats.
Missouri is essentially a wash, with the slightest edge to Clinton based on her winning all four trial heats (Obama, curiously, loses to Huckabee), and a slight edge on the average lead (5.5 to 4.0).
The best news?
In the 40 trial heats listed, the Democrats lead in 32 of them, while losing in only seven (one is tied).
Above all else, we would do well to remember that statistic most of all. ANY DEMOCRAT in the lead pack is electable, provided we support them and don't shoot ourselves in the foot.
(Final caveat: Yes, Edwards supporters, I feel your pain. SUSA did not poll him in this set of trial heats. The media's insistence on defining the GOP primary as an open race, while defining the Democratic race as a two-man race, is getting to be a little annoying.)