The final NBC/WSJ poll has just been released. In it, Obama leads McCain 51-43. Here is the link, sorry for no link earlier:
Obama leads 51-43
The 8 point gap is down from the 10 point lead Obama had last week, but still not too shabby. From the Wall Street Journal article:
The poll shows some slight movement for McCain. But with just 48 hours left, it's going to be a challenge to make up the rest of the difference," said Neil Newhouse, a Republican pollster who conducts the survey with Democrat Peter D. Hart.
"This poll has all the earmarkings of an electorate that has reached an opinion that Barack Obama would be a good president," Mr. Hart said. "The uncertainties [about Sen. Obama] that were so prevalent early in the year have just melted away.
For reference, the final NBC/WSJ poll from the 2004 election gave Bush a 1 point victory over Kerry, so they were slightly off, but in line with most other pre-election polls.
A little more from the article:
Among the poll's findings: Voters are just as likely to identify with Sen. Obama's background and values as they are with Sen. McCain's, with the Democrat having made up substantial ground in this regard. A large portion of those polled said they would be either optimistic or at least satisfied if Sen. Obama wins, figures comparable to other victors on the eve of their elections.
Sen. Obama also continues to win among key voter groups, leading among independents, suburbanites, Midwesterners and white Catholics.
Finally, despite all the smears and lies told by the McCain campaign and their supporters, it hasn't seem to affect the voters' view of Obama. From the poll:
Fully 58% of those polled said they would be optimistic and confident or at least satisfied and hopeful if Sen. Obama were to be elected, compared to 46% who said that about a McCain victory. The Obama figure exceeds President Bush's on the eve of his twin victories and Bill Clinton's level just before he was re-elected.
No matter what they have to say about Obama, the public is still driven by his message of change and hope. In short, the American people believe again.