It's amazing how much the opinion about abortion changes the poll when the demographic of people who are actually affected by it are informed of the differences between the two candidates on the issue. This new poll shows just how vulnerable McCain is once the voting public has all the correct information about him.
Bad news for McCain, who has had 4 months to define himself as the Republican nominee. Obama has been the presumptive democratic nominee for only 2 weeks. He is on a whirlwind tour of the United States for the purposes of introducing himself and his views to the 18 million supporters of Hillary Clinton, as well as the independant and moderate Republican voters who are also up for grabs. Obama will now define McCain as the rightwing panderer that he truly is. This poll shows that Obama needs to highlight McCain's stances on many issues, most notably, abortion rights for women and the economy, especially in regards to his proposed tax breaks for everybody who earns less than $250,000.
A recent Planned Parenthood poll found that 49% of McCain's female supporters thought he was pro-choice! The public confuses "maverick" (which he isn't) with moderate (which he surely isn't). It's Obama's job to let everyone know that, on the issues most people care about, he's as draconian as bush.
http://www.ppaction.org/...
Key Findings from the GQRR Poll:
*Once balanced information about Obama and McCain’s respective positions on choice is introduced, Obama gains 6 points overall, with his lead in battleground states expanding from a net 2 points (47-45 percent) to a net 13 points (53-40 percent).
*The issue of choice moves the swing vote and generates crossover support. Obama gains 13 points among pro-choice Independent women (who make up 9 percent of this electorate) and 9 points among pro-choice Republican women (who account for 5 percent of this electorate). When these groups are combined, this movement equates to a gain of 1.6 points overall in the general election race against McCain.
*Choice can also help Obama consolidate his base—Obama gains 6 points among Democratic women after balanced descriptions of the candidates’ positions on choice is introduced.
*Despite the fact that the national focus seems to be on the economy, among pro-choice Independent women, pro-choice Republican women, and liberal to moderate Republican women, the issue of abortion produces a larger advantage for Democrats than the economy, the war in Iraq, or health care. Moreover, among these three groups critiques on McCain’s anti-choice position are the strongest attacks against him, trumping attacks on the economy, the war, and special interests.
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