According to an A.P.-GfK poll, McCain and Obama are basically running even among likely voters. After the last presidential debate many voters decided to go back home to their own party, raising McCain’s percentage and even out the previous number chasm. Some GOP pundits admit that “Joe the Plumber” did strike a chord with many whites and voters earning less than $50,000.

Some voters rallied back to McCain because of his experience, others behind Obama because of the “lying ads” and his choice of running mate. Bottom line: the contest is still very close and bound to fluctuate as we’re approaching November 4th.

Why are the polls so changeable, one might ask? As per Charles Franklin, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin and a polling authority, “If they all agree, somebody would be doing something terribly wrong.” Some of the reasons are the wording of the questions, the voter’s interpretation and the margin of error.

Starting with the day after the last debate, it shows that McCain’s increase was due to his strong debate performance and putting Obama on the defensive and a strike of genius by mentioning “Joe the Plumber.”

Because voters are still vacillating, we’ll just have to wait and see till the last count of all the ballots who is the real winner.

POLLS VARIATION INDICATES TIGHT RACE
By Liz Sidoti (A.P 10/23/08)
Abstract by Johana Nadler

click to view article