On today, Unity Day, Rasmussen's daily tracking poll has picked up Unity!
For the first time all year, Obama is supported by 80% of Democrats over McCain. In recent months, his support from Democrats has typically been in the high-60’s or low-70’s range.
Consider the facts and understand today is a day to Thank Senator Clinton. Her voters certainly appear to be unifying with the Obama voters; her campaign made our party stronger, the race at this point in the end certainly appears to have left no long term or short term damage to our party. It is only up from here.
Daily Tracking
McCain's intraparty support isn't nearly as lopsided as it once was
McCain is supported by 84% of Republicans and holds an eight-point lead among unaffiliated voters. The bad news for McCain is that there are a lot more Democrats than Republicans. Obama’s party now enjoys a ten-percentage point advantage in terms of party identification.
The favorability ratings are dead equal
Both men are viewed favorably by 55% of voters nationwide. Forty-two percent (42%) have an unfavorable opinion of Obama while 43% offer a negative assessment of McCain.
This is great news. Because of the imbalance in Party ID, Obama now leads.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows Barack Obama attracting 46% of the vote while John McCain earns 42%. When "leaners" are included, Obama now leads 48% to 45%. Leaners are survey respondents who initially do not favor either candidate but indicate their support on a follow-up question. One week ago today, McCain had the edge over Obama, 46% to 43%.
Obama: 46% (43%)
McCain: 42% (46%)
As unity deepens, our 10 point advantage in Party ID will pick up steam.
During the month of April, 41.7% of Americans considered themselves to be Democrats. Just 31.6% said they were Republicans and 26.6% were not affiliated with either major party. This is the third straight month Obama’s team has enjoyed a double-digit edge.
The polling is good. The atmosphere is good. The good democrats who supported Hillary Clinton are coming home, already, faster than I'd even hoped.
At the end of a Long Journey, I just want to send a personal note of thanks to the Clinton Family for serving the Democratic Party for decades and being part of this years amazing race. Because the contest made it to places like Texas, Montana, Indiana, North Carolina and even Kentucky, we can rest assured that many MANY people voted in a Democratic Primary for the first time and are now more inclined to vote Democratic in November. More importantly, millions of party members, such as myself, have participated in their first campaigns in far off places like Texas (where I live) where we really haven't had a real national race in an extremely long time; and now people like me are engaging in local races for Senate and Congress... More and more left leaning Independents are switching into the Democratic column, whether in reality or in their minds, after participating in the very first 50 state primary in our nation's history. This has simply never happened before and it's something John McCain's team can't come close to duplicating. Dean's 50 state strategy finally reached all 50 states. If Hillary Clinton had given up too early, we would never have gotten this benefit. I may have advocated her dropping out early, out of fear, but in the end, I hope history validates Hillary's Efforts and the byproduct of this protracted contest.
Time to put a Democrat in the White House
PS: The Unity Bounce Starts TODAY...
UPDATES:
Howard Dean just emailed me this
Dear Steven,
We've just finished the most exciting primary contest in a generation, and Barack Obama is our presumptive nominee for President.
Senator Clinton ran an outstanding campaign and we all should be deeply thankful for the passion, energy, and ideas that defined her from the start. Our country and our Party are better off today because the incredible amount of work she and her supporters put into her campaign. We thank Hillary for her leadership, her commitment to America and the Democratic Party.
It can be tough to lose a hard-fought race -- I know, because I've been there. But no matter who you supported, you're part of a bigger family -- one that shares the same hopes, values, and dreams. This campaign is so much more than any of us or any candidate. It's about the future of our country, and our collective desire to take it back for the people who make it great.
Over the next few weeks and months, our family will reunite. It starts today, and I'm asking for your help. Reach out to your friends and family, your neighbors and coworkers, and anyone else who may have fought hard for what they believed in. Bring them in and remind them that we're a family -- that together, we can bring about fundamental change and elect a Democratic president.
We have to be unified if we're going to bring universal health care to America's families, to help fight global climate change, to ensure a woman's right to make her own medical decisions, and to end the war in Iraq.
We have to be unified if we're going to put a Democrat back in the White House.
Over the past few years, we've all been part of the work to rebuild the Democratic Party in all 50 states.
When the primary came around, we found ourselves with two once-in-a-lifetime candidates. Barack and Hillary crossed the country inspiring activists, building organizations, and registering new voters. In state after state, we saw record turnout that dwarfed the Republican's; we saw hundreds of thousands of Americans become involved with a Democratic campaign for the first time; and millions of voters saw just how passionately we feel about the future of our country.
After years of rebuilding and a historic primary campaign, our Democratic community is stronger than ever before. And with Barack Obama, we have a candidate who has inspired millions of people to believe again.
But change doesn't come easily -- and no matter how much we've prepared, no matter how inspiring our candidate, no matter how badly we want it to happen, we have to fight for it every step of the way. Absolutely nothing will be handed to us over the next five months -- we have to do everything we can to make sure Barack Obama is our next President.
We've just seen two brilliant candidates run the most exciting primary in decades. Now we need to come together and finish the job.
I'm looking forward to it.
Howard Dean
If you're a Clinton Supporter, Please, send a note both to Senator Clinton and Senator Obama today in the spirit of Unity.
Senator Obama's Statement on the speech
"Obviously, I am thrilled and honored to have Senator Clinton's support. But more than that, I honor her today for the valiant and historic campaign she has run. She shattered barriers on behalf of my daughters and women everywhere, who now know that there are no limits to their dreams. And she inspired millions with her strength, courage and unyielding commitment to the cause of working Americans. Our party and our country are stronger because of the work she has done throughout her life, and I'm a better candidate for having had the privilege of competing with her in this campaign. No one knows better than Senator Clinton how desperately America and the American people need change, and I know she will continue to be in the forefront of that battle this fall and for years to come," said U.S. Senator Barack Obama.
A new Obama Group for Hillary Supporters: The Welcome Wagon