Thread: Bob Barr Is McCain's Nightmare

Zogby: Barr Is McCain's Nightmare

Monday, July 7, 2008 9:14 AM

UTICA, New York – As the race for President passes the Independence Day holiday and heads toward the dog days of summer, Sen. Barack Obama holds a 44% to 38% lead over Sen. John McCain in the horserace contest, but also leads by a substantial margin in a state-by-state Electoral College tally, a new Zogby Interactive poll shows.

The extensive national poll of of 46,274 likely voters also shows Libertarian candidate and former Congressman Bob Barr wins 6% support, eating into McCain’s needed conservative base of support.

Neither Obama nor McCain breaks a 50% favorable rating. Obama is viewed as very or somewhat favorable by 49.7%. For McCain, that number is 43.2%.

Pollster John Zogby: “Obama is in the driver’s seat right now, especially where it really counts - in the electoral votes. Bob Barr could really hurt McCain’s chances. McCain can’t afford the level of slippage to Barr we found among conservatives in this polling. While there has been plenty of talk about Obama’s recent emphasis on his centrist positions, he can get away with it during these dog days of the campaign as McCain finds himself still trying to shore up the conservative base. McCain will have to move to the center because right now Obama is clobbering him among independents. But there is the rub for McCain: Bob Barr has some juice among conservatives and is hurting him in several states. â€

If Bob Barr came out strongly for enforcing the laws/attrition as the primary way to deal with IAs while rejecting all forms of amnesty, he would have more support from many conservatives & other voters. Instead he seems to focus just on "securing the border" which is only part of the solution. But I'm glad he's hurting McCain's candidacy.

I thought I would leave this topic in General Discussions for a bit for a little more exposure, then I'll move it to Polls and Polling Data.

I think a third party just might have a real chance this time, although I think Chuck Baldwin is the better choice out of the two.

if obama or mc cain wins, how many people are going to make the threat to move outta the country and go somewhere else????

Bob Barr ain't the only one who could "hurt" Juan's chances. I won't vote for Barr because he's on record for a "guest worker" program. Plus, he voted for the disastrous Patriot Act.

I'm just not voting at all for president. I'm a Ron Paul supporter. No way in Hades will I vote for La Raza McCain.

I will have to vote for Senator though.

Moving to Polls and Polling Data.